Trichomonas vaginalis and Spontaneous Preterm Birth in a High-Risk Obstetric Cohort in Atlanta, GA.

BACKGROUND: Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) is the most prevalent nonviral sexually transmitted infection globally, but routine screening is not recommended in HIV-negative individuals. There is a significant racial/ethnic health disparity in TV infection rates. Evidence regarding the association between TV and adverse perinatal outcomes is conflicting, but a recent large meta-analysis found a modest increased risk of preterm birth with TV infection (odds ratio, 1.27; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-1.50). The current study was undertaken to evaluate whether TV infection increases the risk of spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) in a high-risk obstetric cohort in Atlanta, GA. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of women delivering at a safety-net hospital in Atlanta between July 2016 and June 2018. Women delivering a singleton live fetus at >20 weeks' gestation were included. The diagnosis of TV was by nucleic acid amplification testing. The outcome of interest was sPTB before 37 weeks' gestation. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards modeling was used to estimate the effect of TV on sPTB, controlling for confounding variables, including clinical and demographic characteristics. Several sensitivity analyses were undertaken. RESULTS: There were 3723 deliveries during the study period, and approximately half (46%) were screened for TV with nucleic acid amplification testing. After exclusions, the analytic cohort included 1629 women. Median age was 26 years (interquartile range, 22-31 years), and 70% of participants were listed as non-Hispanic Black in the electronic medical record. The prevalence of TV was 16% (n = 257). The sPTB rate was 7% (n = 112). In multivariable Cox proportional hazards modeling, TV infection was not associated with a statistically significantly increased risk of sPTB (hazard ratio, 1.34; 95% confidence interval, 0.84-2.13; P = 0.22). Factors associated with sPTB included history of PTB, adequate plus or transfer of prenatal care (vs. adequate/intermediate prenatal care utilization using the Kotelchuck index), recreational substance use, and Chlamydia trachomatis diagnosed during the current pregnancy. Results were not substantively different in sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of TV was high in this cohort. Its infection was not associated with a statistically significantly increased risk of sPTB. Nevertheless, the magnitude of effect is consistent with prior meta-analyses.

Association of Delayed Treatment of Chlamydial Infection and Gonorrhea in Pregnancy and Preterm Birth.

BACKGROUND: Treating chlamydia and gonorrhea in pregnancy has been shown to decrease the associated risk of preterm birth in some studies. Delayed treatment of these infections among nonpregnant patients carries known consequences. It is unclear whether delayed treatment in pregnancy similarly increases adverse outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of women who delivered at a safety-net hospital from July 2016 to June 2018. Women with at least one visit who were tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea were included. Women diagnosed after 36 weeks (preterm analysis) or 31 weeks (early preterm analysis) were excluded. We used multivariable logistic regression to examine the association between no infection, timely treatment (<1 week), and delayed treatment (>1 week, not treated) with preterm (<37 weeks) and early preterm (<32 weeks) birth. RESULTS: Among 3154 deliveries, 389 (12%) were preterm. Among 3107 deliveries, 74 (2%) were early preterm. In adjusted models, women with timely (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]; 1.7, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0-2.7) and delayed (aOR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.1-2.5) treatments had increased odds of preterm birth. Similarly, women with timely (aOR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.0-6.2) and delayed (aOR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.2-4.9) treatments had increased odds of early preterm birth. Among women who tested positive, multiple infections were not associated with an increase in preterm birth (preterm: 17% vs. 20%, P = 0.53; early preterm: 5% vs. 6%, P = 0.74). CONCLUSIONS: Chlamydia and gonorrhea are associated with preterm and early preterm births, regardless of time to treatment. Creative solutions are needed to improve the prevention of these infections in pregnancy.

We Must Address the Antiobesity Biases We Espouse in Our Operating Rooms.

OBJECTIVE: To describe anti-obesity bias in medical education including impact on patients, growth of biases over time, and education-based initiatives aimed at reducing bias. DESIGN: We reviewed available literature on anti-obesity bias in medical education and initiatives to address this bias. SETTING: Information from a wide variety of medical educational settings was included. PARTICIPANTS: N/A RESULTS: Anti-obesity bias in healthcare is an independent risk factor for poor health outcomes and is pervasive throughout the culture of medicine. Medical students identify operating rooms as the number one location for anti-obesity comments, and students' biases increase throughout medical school. We propose several interventions (the 6 I's) as the next step in addressing this bias.

Acceptability of virtual prenatal care: thinking beyond the pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: Obstetrical providers have had to rapidly rethink how to provide comprehensive prenatal care during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. At our institution, we implemented a risk-stratified approach to incorporating telemedicine into our prenatal care. The objective of this study was to determine acceptability of virtual prenatal care and preferences for future pregnancies among our patient population. STUDY DESIGN: We sought feedback from a convenience sample of patients regarding the acceptability of virtual prenatal care and desires for future pregnancies. RESULTS: We found that virtual prenatal care is acceptable to patients, and the majority would like to incorporate it into future post-pandemic pregnancy care, although preferences differ by race. CONCLUSION: Virtual prenatal care should continue to be employed in post-pandemic obstetric practice. Obstetrical providers must determine how to incorporate this practice in a risk-stratified and equitable fashion.