A public health problem in pregnant women: acute toxoplasma infection - a retrospective study of 12 years of data from a training and research hospital in Izmir

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study is to identify the prevalence of acute toxoplasmosis in pregnant patients who are monitored in our hospital and to provide insight into screening and management options by assessing maternal and fetal outcomes. Methods: Pregnants between the ages of 18-49, who were followed up in the Gynecology and Obstetrics Polyclinic/Clinic and Infectious Diseases Polyclinic/Clinic of a Training and Research Hospital between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2021, were included in this study. T. gondii IgM, IgG and avidity tests which were performed for pregnant women were evaluated retrospectively. Results: The study consisted of 7480 pregnants. Three hundred eighty-six (%5.16) of the pregnant women tested positive. Anti-T. gondii IgM seropositivity was found to be most common in the 18-28 age group (7.82%), and this frequency gradually decreased as age progressed. Two of the 122 patients whose polymerase chain reaction for T. gondii was examined from amniotic fluid at the outer center had congenital toxoplasmosis, and these pregnancies were terminated. Conclusions: Pregnant women continue to have a considerable risk of developing acute toxoplasmosis. For this infestation, which still remains on the agenda as a public health problem, every individual who is planning a pregnancy and has not had a serological test before should be screened before pregnancy. Pregnant women should continue to be informed and educated about this parasite, in our opinion.