Maternal Immunization Earlier in Pregnancy Maximizes Antibody Transfer and Expected Infant Seropositivity Against Pertussis.

BACKGROUND: Maternal immunization against pertussis is currently recommended after the 26th gestational week (GW). Data on the optimal timing of maternal immunization are inconsistent. METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational noninferiority study comparing the influence of second-trimester (GW 13-25) vs third-trimester (≥GW 26) tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) immunization in pregnant women who delivered at term. Geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) of cord blood antibodies to recombinant pertussis toxin (PT) and filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The primary endpoint were GMCs and expected infant seropositivity rates, defined by birth anti-PT >30 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay units (EU)/mL to confer seropositivity until 3 months of age. RESULTS: We included 335 women (mean age, 31.0 ± 5.1 years; mean gestational age, 39.3 ± 1.3 GW) previously immunized with Tdap in the second (n = 122) or third (n = 213) trimester. Anti-PT and anti-FHA GMCs were higher following second- vs third-trimester immunization (PT: 57.1 EU/mL [95% confidence interval {CI}, 47.8-68.2] vs 31.1 EU/mL [95% CI, 25.7-37.7], P < .001; FHA: 284.4 EU/mL [95% CI, 241.3-335.2] vs 140.2 EU/mL [95% CI, 115.3-170.3], P < .001). The adjusted GMC ratios after second- vs third-trimester immunization differed significantly (PT: 1.9 [95% CI, 1.4-2.5]; FHA: 2.2 [95% CI, 1.7-3.0], P < .001). Expected infant seropositivity rates reached 80% vs 55% following second- vs third-trimester immunization (adjusted odds ratio, 3.7 [95% CI, 2.1-6.5], P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Early second-trimester maternal Tdap immunization significantly increased neonatal antibodies. Recommending immunization from the second trimester onward would widen the immunization opportunity window and could improve seroprotection.

[Management of post-coital bleeding: should all women be referred?]. / Prise en charge des métrorragies postcoïtales: faut-il référer toutes les patientes?

Post-coital bleeding (PCB) is a frequent occurrence in sexually active women. In most cases, bleeding is associated with mild cervical pathology requiring no further specialist advice. In rare cases though, PCB can be the first sign of cervical cancer, in early or advanced stage, and diagnosis and treatment should not be delayed. In the absence of current consensus, we propose to standardize the management of postcoital bleeding through the elaboration of a flow chart based primarily on medical history and a physical examination. The aim is to enable a better identification of patients at risk for cervical cancer and thereby enabling rapid referral to a specialized center.

Accuracy of self-collected vaginal dry swabs using the Xpert human papillomavirus assay.

BACKGROUND: Polymerase chain reaction-based Xpert human papillomavirus (HPV) assay is a rapid test that detects high-risk HPV (hrHPV) infection. This point-of-care test is usually performed by collecting a cervical specimen in a vial of PreservCyt® transport medium. We compared HPV test positivity and accuracy between self-collected sample with a dry swab (s-DRY) versus physician-collected cervical sampling using a broom like brush and immediate immersion in PreservCyt (dr-WET). METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we recruited 150 women ≥ 18 years old attending the colposcopy clinic in the University Hospital of Geneva. Each participant first self-collected a vaginal sample using a dry swab and then the physician collected a cervical specimen in PreservCyt. HPV analysis was performed with Xpert. Part of the PreservCyt-collected sample was used for hrHPV detection with the cobas® HPV test. HPV test positivity and performance of the two collection methods was compared. RESULTS: HPV positivity was 49.1% for s-DRY, 41.8% for dr-WET and 46.2% for cobas. Good agreement was found between s-DRY and dr-WET samples (kappa±Standard error (SE) = 0.64±0.09,), particularly for low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL+) (kappa±SE = 0.80±0.17). Excellent agreement was found between the two samples for HPV16 detection in general (kappa±SE = 0.91±0.09) and among LSIL+ lesions (kappa±SE = 1.00±0.17). Sensitivities and specificities were, respectively, 84.2% and 47.1%(s-DRY), 73.1% and 58.7%. (dr-WET) and 77.8% and 45.7% (cobas) for CIN2+ detection. The median delay between sampling and HPV analysis was 7 days for the Xpert HPV assay and 19 days for cobas. There were 36 (24.0%) invalid results among s-DRY samples and 4 (2.7%) among dr-WET (p = 0.001). Invalid results happened due to the long interval between collection and analysis. CONCLUSION: Self-collected vaginal dry swabs are a valid alternative to collecting cervical samples in PreservCyt solution for HPV testing with the Xpert HPV assay. IMPACT: HPV self-collection with dry cotton swabs might assist in the implementation of an effective screening strategy in developing countries. TRIAL REGISTRATION: International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number Registry ISRCTN83050913.

Prevalence of undiagnosed uterine leiomyosarcoma in women undergoing hysterectomy or myomectomy for benign indications.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of undiagnosed uterine leiomyosarcoma (LMS) in women undergoing hysterectomy or myomectomy for suspected benign leiomyomas. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective, single-centre, cohort study. Information for all gynaecological procedures for suspected benign leiomyomas between 1993 and 2016 was extracted from the hospital database. The prevalence of LMS was calculated by surgery type and age group. RESULTS: The prevalence of LMS was 1.7/1000 [one in 603 women; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.8-3.4] for all procedures combined. The prevalence of LMS was 1.1/1000 (one in 875 women; 95% CI 0.4-2.9) for all hysterectomies combined and 4.2/1000 (one in 240 women; 95% CI 1.4-12.2) for all myomectomies combined. For women aged <50years, the prevalence of LMS was 5.4/1000 (one in 187 women; 95% CI 1.8-15.6) for abdominal hysterectomies, 1.0/1000 (one in 1040 women; 95% CI 0.2-5.4) for laparoscopic hysterectomies, 5.2/1000 (one in 191 women; 95% CI 0.9-29.1) for abdominal myomectomies, 3.0/1000 (one in 332 women; 95% CI 0.5-16.9) for laparoscopic myomectomies and 8.6/1000 (one in 116 women; 95% CI 1.5-47.2) for hysteroscopic myomectomies. CONCLUSIONS: Occult LMS is a rare malignant disease. This study found that the prevalence of LMS was higher in women undergoing myomectomy compared with women undergoing hysterectomy. The highest prevalence of LMS was found in women undergoing hysteroscopic myomectomy.

Conservative Management of a Scar Abscess formed in a Cesarean-induced Isthmocele.

BACKGROUND: Abscesses located in the cesarean-section (CS) induced isthmoceles are rarely encountered and are usually treated surgically, mostly by hysterectomy. CASE DESCRIPTION: We here report the case of a 40-year-old primiparous woman presenting a symptomatic abscess in the isthmocele 10 years after a CS. She was treated by antibiotics and was closely monitored by clinical evaluation, ultrasonography, and pelvic magnetic resonance imaging. This treatment led to complete resolution of symptoms and a disappearance of the abscess at imagery. CONCLUSION: Our report shows that a conservative medical management of isthmocele abscesses can be an effective approach in women wishing to preserve their uterus.