TB in a pregnant woman

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.

Does anyone know... If a pregnant woman becomes infected with TB, can the TB cross the placenta? And if so, what damage can it do to the fetus?

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.
Does anyone know... If a pregnant woman becomes infected with TB, can the TB cross the placenta? And if so, what damage can it do to the fetus?

I just finished my OB rotation and a patient had TB. They started treatment (INH) and I believe the meds do cross the placenta but are of no harm to the developing fetus. The baby may be born with TB but I believe it's rare.

As for TB crossing the placenta.........I am 'assuming' yes-because babies can be born with congenital TB?

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.

Thanks for sharing your experience!!!

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

I googled "tb + pregnancy" and got these results:

http://www.google.com/custom?domains=allnurses.com&q=tb+%2B+pregnancy&sa=Search&client=pub-9350112648257122&forid=1&channel=0988991160&ie=ISO-8859-1&oe=ISO-8859-1&flav=0000&sig=NrRbS9DWpBilCd8I&cof=GALT%3A%23008000%3BGL%3A1%3BDIV%3A%23FFCC00%3BVLC%3A663399%3BAH%3Acenter%3BBGC%3AFFFFFF%3BLBGC%3AFFFFFF%3BALC%3A000000%3BLC%3A000000%3BT%3A0000FF%3BGFNT%3A0000FF%3BGIMP%3A0000FF%3BLH%3A0%3BLW%3A0%3BL%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fallnurses.com%2Fimages%2Fallnurses_logo_jpg%252050%2520pix%2520high.jpg%3BS%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fallnurses.com%3BFORID%3A1%3B&hl=en

This would apply to a mom w/active TB, NOT just a + skin test.

Pulmonary TB does not cross the placenta; extra-pulmonary TB (untreated) might cause problems. (I have seen TB cultured from a placenta.) The baby can become infected w/TB via inhalation of infectious droplet nuclei from mom and frequent face-to-face interaction w/her when being fed and cared for. TB infection in babies and small children can have devastating results--rarely seen in this country, but ?don't know current situation in 3rd world countries.

If you're interested, go to the World Health Organization website, and search TB.

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.
I googled "tb + pregnancy" and got these results:

http://www.google.com/custom?domains=allnurses.com&q=tb+%2B+pregnancy&sa=Search&client=pub-9350112648257122&forid=1&channel=0988991160&ie=ISO-8859-1&oe=ISO-8859-1&flav=0000&sig=NrRbS9DWpBilCd8I&cof=GALT%3A%23008000%3BGL%3A1%3BDIV%3A%23FFCC00%3BVLC%3A663399%3BAH%3Acenter%3BBGC%3AFFFFFF%3BLBGC%3AFFFFFF%3BALC%3A000000%3BLC%3A000000%3BT%3A0000FF%3BGFNT%3A0000FF%3BGIMP%3A0000FF%3BLH%3A0%3BLW%3A0%3BL%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fallnurses.com%2Fimages%2Fallnurses_logo_jpg%252050%2520pix%2520high.jpg%3BS%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fallnurses.com%3BFORID%3A1%3B&hl=en

This would apply to a mom w/active TB, NOT just a + skin test.

Pulmonary TB does not cross the placenta; extra-pulmonary TB (untreated) might cause problems. (I have seen TB cultured from a placenta.) The baby can become infected w/TB via inhalation of infectious droplet nuclei from mom and frequent face-to-face interaction w/her when being fed and cared for. TB infection in babies and small children can have devastating results--rarely seen in this country, but ?don't know current situation in 3rd world countries.

If you're interested, go to the World Health Organization website, and search TB.

Thank you!!!

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