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Women's Health and Education Center (WHEC)

Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy

Editor's Note

Medicine is an ever-changing science. The internist deals with infectious diseases that are primarily mono-etiological; a single organism is responsible for a given set of symptoms. While the obstetricians and gynecologists deal with mono-etiological disease, its pathogenic spectrum is often different. The principal pattern in obstetrics and gynecology is polymicrobial infection, which involves primarily microaerophillic and obligatory anaerobic bacteria. Even when the two disciplines are dealing with the same genus of bacteria, the spectrum of disease may diverge significantly. Nevertheless, the basic ground rules for both the disciplines are the same:

  1. Computation of the probable pathogenic etiology of a given process.
  2. The selection of one or more antibiotics predicated upon the probability listing.
  3. The selection of antibiotic(s) should be - Drug of Choice
  4. Proper determination of dosage by body weight, route of administration, functional status of the principal mode of detoxification (hepatic and renal).
  5. Delineation of anticipated therapeutic response and development of an alternative plan if inadequate response ensues.

As new research and clinical experience broaden our knowledge, changes in treatment and drug therapy are required. The editors and the writers of this section have checked with sources believed to be reliable in their efforts to provide drug dosage schedules that are complete and in accord with the standards accepted. However, the readers are advised to check the product information sheet included in the package of each drug they plan to administer to be certain that the information contained in these schedules is accurate and that changes have not been made in the recommended dose or in the contraindications for administration. This recommendation is of particular importance in connection with new or infrequently used drugs.

Women's Health and Education Center (WHEC)

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