American journal of obstetrics and gynecology
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Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. · Sep 2021
A comparison of acute pain management strategies after cesarean delivery.
There are approximately 1.2 million cesarean deliveries performed each year in the United States alone. While traditional postoperative pain management strategies previously relied heavily on opioids, practitioners are now moving toward opioid-sparing protocols using multiple classes of nonnarcotic analgesics. Multimodal pain management systems have been adopted by other surgical specialties including gynecology, although the data regarding their use for postoperative cesarean delivery pain management remain limited. ⋯ Transition to a multimodal pain management regimen for women undergoing cesarean delivery resulted in a decrease in opioid use while adequately controlling postoperative pain. A multimodal regimen was associated with early successful exclusive breastfeeding.
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Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. · Sep 2021
Coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine response in pregnant and lactating women: a cohort study.
Pregnant and lactating women were excluded from initial coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine trials; thus, data to guide vaccine decision making are lacking. ⋯ Coronavirus disease 2019 messenger RNA vaccines generated robust humoral immunity in pregnant and lactating women, with immunogenicity and reactogenicity similar to that observed in nonpregnant women. Vaccine-induced immune responses were statistically significantly greater than the response to natural infection. Immune transfer to neonates occurred via placenta and breastmilk.
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Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. · Sep 2021
Preeclampsia and COVID-19: results from the INTERCOVID prospective longitudinal study.
It is unclear whether the suggested link between COVID-19 during pregnancy and preeclampsia is an independent association or if these are caused by common risk factors. ⋯ COVID-19 during pregnancy is strongly associated with preeclampsia, especially among nulliparous women. This association is independent of any risk factors and preexisting conditions. COVID-19 severity does not seem to be a factor in this association. Both conditions are associated independently of and in an additive fashion with preterm birth, severe perinatal morbidity and mortality, and adverse maternal outcomes. Women with preeclampsia should be considered a particularly vulnerable group with regard to the risks posed by COVID-19.
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Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. · Sep 2021
Current prescribing practices and guideline concordance for the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women.
Uncomplicated urinary tract infections are one of the most common bacterial infections in the United States. Clinical practice guidelines from the Infectious Diseases Society of America recommend nitrofurantoin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and Fosfomycin as first-line antibiotic treatments and discourage the use of fluoroquinolone antibiotic agents. US Food and Drug Administration released several black box warnings about fluoroquinolones over the past decade owing to antibiotic resistance and a high burden of adverse events. Historically, uncomplicated urinary tract infections have high rates of guideline-discordant treatment with past studies noting substantial use of fluoroquinolones, directly contradicting clinical practice guidelines. ⋯ Guideline discordance continues in the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infections with the overuse of fluoroquinolones and the underuse of first-line antibiotic agents. Although improving, continued misuse of antibiotic agents may contribute to the growing rates of antibiotic resistance. Actions such as educating physicians about antibiotic resistance and clinical practice guidelines and providing feedback on prescription habits are needed to increase guideline concordance and therefore reduce the use of fluoroquinolones, especially for physicians in family and internal medicine.
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Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. · Sep 2021
Pregnancy alters interleukin-1 beta expression and antiviral antibody responses during severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, the disease-causing pathogen of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, has resulted in morbidity and mortality worldwide. Pregnant women are more susceptible to severe coronavirus disease 2019 and are at higher risk of preterm birth than uninfected pregnant women. Despite this evidence, the immunologic effects of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection during pregnancy remain understudied. ⋯ Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection during pregnancy was characterized by placental inflammation and reduced antiviral antibody responses, which may impact the efficacy of coronavirus disease 2019 treatment in pregnancy. In addition, the long-term implications of placental inflammation for neonatal health require greater consideration.