Sarah A Coggins, Jourdan E Triebwasser, Karen M Puopolo
{"title":"Diagnostic evaluation to identify infection-attributable stillbirth.","authors":"Sarah A Coggins, Jourdan E Triebwasser, Karen M Puopolo","doi":"10.1038/s41372-025-02253-w","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To characterize stillbirth evaluations, including the frequency and yield of investigations for infections causing stillbirth.</p><p><strong>Study design: </strong>Retrospective cohort of stillbirths at three university-affiliated perinatal centers from 2017 to 2022. The primary outcome was adherence to American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology core stillbirth evaluation recommendations (placental pathology, fetal autopsy, and fetal genetic testing). We further characterized the prevalence and yield of specific testing to evaluate for infection-attributable stillbirth etiologies.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The cohort included 399 stillbirths. Placental pathology was performed in 387 cases (97.0%), fetal genetic testing in 163 (40.9%), and fetal autopsy in 126 (31.6%). Fetal bacterial cultures were obtained in 73 (18.2%) cases; potential pathogens were isolated in 21/73 (28.8%). Viral testing was sent infrequently, with variable yield. Six stillbirths had infections identified as probable etiologies.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Adherence to core stillbirth evaluation recommendations was poor, and infection testing was infrequent. Infection-attributable stillbirth prevalence may be underestimated.</p>","PeriodicalId":16690,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Perinatology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Perinatology","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-025-02253-w","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objective: To characterize stillbirth evaluations, including the frequency and yield of investigations for infections causing stillbirth.
Study design: Retrospective cohort of stillbirths at three university-affiliated perinatal centers from 2017 to 2022. The primary outcome was adherence to American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology core stillbirth evaluation recommendations (placental pathology, fetal autopsy, and fetal genetic testing). We further characterized the prevalence and yield of specific testing to evaluate for infection-attributable stillbirth etiologies.
Results: The cohort included 399 stillbirths. Placental pathology was performed in 387 cases (97.0%), fetal genetic testing in 163 (40.9%), and fetal autopsy in 126 (31.6%). Fetal bacterial cultures were obtained in 73 (18.2%) cases; potential pathogens were isolated in 21/73 (28.8%). Viral testing was sent infrequently, with variable yield. Six stillbirths had infections identified as probable etiologies.
Conclusions: Adherence to core stillbirth evaluation recommendations was poor, and infection testing was infrequent. Infection-attributable stillbirth prevalence may be underestimated.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Perinatology provides members of the perinatal/neonatal healthcare team with original information pertinent to improving maternal/fetal and neonatal care. We publish peer-reviewed clinical research articles, state-of-the art reviews, comments, quality improvement reports, and letters to the editor. Articles published in the Journal of Perinatology embrace the full scope of the specialty, including clinical, professional, political, administrative and educational aspects. The Journal also explores legal and ethical issues, neonatal technology and product development.
The Journal’s audience includes all those that participate in perinatal/neonatal care, including, but not limited to neonatologists, perinatologists, perinatal epidemiologists, pediatricians and pediatric subspecialists, surgeons, neonatal and perinatal nurses, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, social workers, dieticians, speech and hearing experts, other allied health professionals, as well as subspecialists who participate in patient care including radiologists, laboratory medicine and pathologists.