Prenatal Infection
Prenatal Infection
Prenatal Infection
developing fetus. They can cause serious illness, birth defects, and lifelong
disabilities. There are three classes of gynecological infections: toxic shock
syndrome, sexually transmitted infections, and pelvic inflammatory disease.
Nursing Diagnosis
Risk for Infection
Risk Factors
Inadequate primary defenses (e.g., broken skin, stasis of body fluids)
Inadequate secondary defenses (e.g., decreased hemoglobin,
immunosuppression)
Inadequate acquired immunity
Environmental exposure
Malnutrition
Rupture of amniotic membranes
Possibly evidenced by
[Not applicable]
Desired Outcomes
2. Obtain information about the client’s cultural background for risk factors.
In Africa, the male-to-female ratio of HIV is 1:1 owing to cultural, sexual practices,
poor hygiene, and inadequate health care, while recent arrivals from Asia, South
America, and the Caribbean islands have increased the risk of exposure to the
Hepatitis B virus.
3. Review lifestyle and profession for the presence of associated risk factors.
Drug abusers and healthcare professionals are at risk for exposure to HIV/AIDS
and HBV through contact with contaminated needles, body fluids,
and blood products; tuberculosis through airborne droplets. Adolescents now
account for almost half of the new cases of STIs each year. Pay particular
attention to adolescents who do not have a strong family support system
because it may be difficult for these youth to receive correct information about
preventing STIs.
4. Assess for any specific signs and symptoms, if present, and notify the
healthcare provider. These may include visible lesions/warts, urinary
frequency, dysuria, cloudy, foul-smelling urine, and changes in color,
consistency, and amount of vaginal discharge.
Identifiable signs of infection assist in determining the mode of treatment. Some
organisms have a predilection for the fetoplacental unit and the neonate,
although the client may be asymptomatic; i.e., Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma
organisms affect many pregnant women and have been cultured in aborted
fetuses, even though the mothers have been free of symptoms. Visible lesions
and warts may indicate herpes simplex virus type II (HSV II)/condyloma, which
can be transmitted to the newborn at the time of delivery if a lesion is present at
term or if viral shedding is occurring. Urinary tract infection symptoms may be
associated with Escherichia coli or GBS, or the client may have asymptomatic
bacteriuria. Abnormal characteristics of vaginal discharges (discoloration, foul-
smelling odor, excessive amount) may indicate an STI.
8. Screen the pregnant woman for HIV during the first prenatal visit and
during the third trimester.
All pregnant women should be tested for HIV during the first prenatal visit. A
second test during the third trimester, preferably at <36 weeks gestation, should
be considered and is recommended for women who are at high risk for acquiring
HIV infection, women who receive health care jurisdictions with high rates of HIV,
and women examined in clinical settings in which HIV incidence is ≥1 per 1,000
women screened per year (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021).