SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnant women assisted in a high-risk maternity hospital in Brazil: Clinical aspects and obstetric outcomes

Background

The spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, the possible development of serious illness, and the possibility of severe obstetric outcomes highlight the importance of addressing SARS-CoV-2 infection in obstetric management.

Methods and findings

A cross-sectional study of pregnant women assisted in a high-risk maternity hospital in Brazil in 2020. All patients admitted for delivery or miscarriage care were tested for SARS-CoV-2 using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and for immunoglobulin (I)gM, and/or IgG by immunochromatography. Clinical aspects and obstetric outcomes were analyzed. A total of 265 pregnant women were included in the study. There were 38 (14.4%) PCR positive cases during pregnancy, 12 (31.6%) on admission screening, and 71(27.2%) patients were IgM- and/or IgG-positive. Among the participants, 86 (32.4%) had at least one positive test during pregnancy. SARS-CoV-2 positive patients had greater contact with known positive patients (p = 0.005). The most frequently reported symptoms were runny nose, cough, loss of smell and taste, headache, and fever. There was also a 35% rate of asymptomatic infections and a 4.6% rate of severe or critical infections. Patients exposed or infected with SARS-CoV-2 had a higher incidence of preterm delivery, cesarean section, need for resuscitation in the delivery room, Apgar score <7 at 5 min, admission to the neonatal intensive care unit, and jaundice. Newborns with at least one positive test had a significantly greater need for phototherapy after delivery (p = 0.05). The results showed a high rate of positive tests among newborns (37.5%), which seems to be compatible with both neonatal and perinatal infection.

Conclusions

It is important to further investigate SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy, including the clinical course and the possibility of adverse outcomes with impact on maternal and fetal health, regardless of the development of symptoms.

Hypertrophic genital herpes in an HIV-infected female patient: Imiquimod as an alternative treatment

Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) is the leading cause of genital ulcers worldwide. In Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) co-infected individuals, rare hypertrophic pseudo-tumoral forms have been described as simulating squamous cell carcinoma or other viral infections such as those caused by Varicella zoster, Molluscum contagiosum and HPV induced lesions. Here, we report a case of hypertrophic genital herpes in an HIV-infected patient effectively treated with surgery and topical 5% imiquimod after the recurrence of lesions. A 45-year-old woman, HIV-positive for 17 years and on regular antiretroviral therapy, presented with a painful 2cm vulvar sessile lesion, a 1cm ulcerated lesion on the clitoral hood, and a slightly elevated lesion in the middle third of the tongue. Excisional biopsy and surgical removal of lesion were performed for histopathological exam. Histopathology of genital lesions showed evidence of chronic lymphoplasmacytic inflammation, intense ulcerated plasmacytosis, and squamous cells displaying HSV cytopathogenic effect. After three months, the patient presented with a new ulcerated perineal lesion. Histopathology showed evidence of chronic ulcerative-vegetative herpetic dermatitis. Consequently, topical 5% imiquimod was administered with successful results. Relapsing character and atypical genital disease evolution with an exophytic pseudotumoral injury have been noted in patients co-infected with HIV and HSV, necessitating anatomopathological recognition for diagnostic confirmation and exclusion of malignancy. Local immunotherapy should be considered as treatment approach.