Tuberculosis in pregnancy

INTRODUCTION

Prenatal care presents a unique opportunity for evaluation and management of latent and active tuberculosis (TB) in pregnant women [1]. Routine tuberculin skin test (TST) screening is not indicated for all pregnant women. However, individuals with an increased risk of tuberculosis may seek medical care only during pregnancy (such as foreign born individuals within five years of immigration from TB endemic countries or individuals with HIV infection) [2]. (See "Epidemiology of tuberculosis".)

The pathogenesis of tuberculosis infection and disease in pregnant women is similar to that in nonpregnant women [3,4]. There is no firm evidence that the risk of new infection or reactivation of tuberculosis in pregnant women is significantly different from matched controls. However, tuberculosis in pregnant women can present insidiously, since symptoms of malaise and fatigue may be attributed to pregnancy rather than disease [5]. In addition, during pregnancy it can be difficult to recognize weight loss. (See "Microbiology and pathogenesis of tuberculosis".)

Since pregnancy has not been shown to increase the risk of TB, the epidemiology of TB in pregnancy is a reflection of the general incidence of disease [6]. This also is true in HIV-infected women, as shown in a group of predominantly HIV-infected pregnant women in New York City during 1991 to 1992, where the rate of TB was 94.8 per 100,000 deliveries [7].

Issues related to diagnosis and treatment of latent TB infection and active TB disease in pregnant women will be reviewed here. Issues related to the management of latent and active TB in nonpregnant patients are discussed in detail separately. (See "Diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection in HIV-negative adults" and "Diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in HIV-negative patients" and "Treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis in HIV-negative patients".)

LATENT TB

Pregnancy has not been shown to influence the pathogenesis of TB or the likelihood of progression from latent to active disease, nor has it been shown to affect the response to treatment [8,9].

                

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Literature review current through: May 2013. | This topic last updated: Jan 8, 2013.
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