Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Special Statement: Clinical quality measures in obstetrics.

This article provides an updated overview and critique of clinical quality measures relevant to obstetrical care. The history of the quality movement in the United States and the proliferation of quality metrics over the past quarter-century are reviewed. Common uses of quality measures are summarized: payment programs, accreditation, public reporting, and quality improvement projects. We present listings of metrics that are reported by physicians or hospitals, either voluntarily or by mandate, to government agencies, payers, "watchdog" ratings organizations, and other entities. The costs and other burdens of extracting data and reporting metrics are summarized. The potential for unintended adverse consequences of the use of quality metrics is discussed along with approaches to mitigating adverse consequences. Finally, some recent attempts to develop simplified core measure sets are presented, with the promise that the complex and burdensome quality-metric enterprise may improve in the near future.

Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Special Statement: Telemedicine in obstetrics-quality and safety considerations.

The frequency of telemedicine encounters has increased dramatically in recent years. This review summarizes the literature regarding the safety and quality of telemedicine for pregnancy-related services, including prenatal care, postpartum care, diabetes mellitus management, medication abortion, lactation support, hypertension management, genetic counseling, ultrasound examination, contraception, and mental health services. For many of these, telemedicine has several potential or proven benefits, including expanded patient access, improved patient satisfaction, decreased disparities in care delivery, and health outcomes at least comparable to those of traditional in-person encounters. Considering these benefits, it is suggested that payers should reimburse providers at least as much for telemedicine as for in-person services. Areas for future research are considered.

Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Special Statement: Quality metric on the rate of postpartum diabetes screening after pregnancies with gestational diabetes mellitus.

As many as 1 in 3 patients with gestational diabetes mellitus have impaired glucose metabolism when screened postpartum. These patients have a 40% to 70% lifetime risk of progression to type 2 diabetes mellitus, but progression can be delayed or prevented by lifestyle interventions or medication. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Diabetes Association recommend a glucose tolerance test at 4 to 12 weeks postpartum for all patients with gestational diabetes mellitus. Despite these recommendations, postpartum screening rates are typically <50%, representing a major healthcare "quality gap." The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine proposes a uniform metric that identifies the percentage of persons with gestational diabetes mellitus who completed a 75-g, 2-hour glucose tolerance test within 12 weeks after delivery. The metric is designed to be measured using diagnosis and procedure codes in payor claims data. Barriers to screening are discussed. Possible uses of the metric for quality improvement projects are outlined. Increasing the rate of postpartum diabetes screening should facilitate timely referral to implement lifestyle modifications, medication, and long-term follow-up. Use of the metric in financial incentive programs is discouraged at this time.

Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Special Statement: Postpartum visit checklists for normal pregnancy and complicated pregnancy.

Rising maternal morbidity and mortality rates, widening healthcare disparities, and increasing focus on cardiometabolic risk modification in at-risk patients have together catalyzed a shift in the postpartum care paradigm. What was once a single office visit in the 6 weeks after delivery is now being reimagined as a continuum of care that transitions patients from pregnancy to lifelong health optimization. However, this shift in postpartum care also comes with increased visit complexity and additional provider burden, particularly when patients have had significant pregnancy complications or have chronic diseases. To ensure that the comprehensive needs of both healthy and medically complex people are consistently met under this revised postpartum care paradigm, a postpartum visit checklist for uncomplicated postpartum patients and another checklist for those with major medical or obstetrical morbidities are presented. These checklists are designed to ensure that essential elements of physical and mental well-being are routinely considered, that adequate follow-up or specialty referrals are made, and that relevant future health risks are appropriately reviewed and discussed.

Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Special Statement: Quality metric for timely postpartum follow-up after severe hypertension.

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. Because postpartum exacerbation of severe hypertension is common, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that patients with severe hypertension during the childbirth hospitalization be seen within 72 hours after discharge. In this statement, the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine proposes a uniform metric reflecting the rate of timely postpartum follow-up of patients with severe hypertension. The metric is designed to be measured using automated calculations based on billing codes derived from claims data. The metric can be used in quality improvement projects to increase the rate of timely follow-up in patients with severe hypertension during the childbirth hospitalization. Suggested steps for implementing such a project are outlined.

Risk Factors, Etiologies, and Screening Tools for Sepsis in Pregnant Women: A Multicenter Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND: Given the significant morbidity and mortality of maternal sepsis, early identification is key to improve outcomes. This study aims to evaluate the performance characteristics of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), quick Sequential [Sepsis-related] Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA), and maternal early warning (MEW) criteria for identifying cases of impending sepsis in parturients. The secondary objective of this study is to identify etiologies and risk factors for maternal sepsis and to assess timing of antibiotics in patients diagnosed with sepsis. METHODS: Validated maternal sepsis cases during the delivery hospitalization from 1995 to 2012 were retrospectively identified at 7 academic medical centers in the United States and Israel. Control patients were matched by date of delivery in a 1:4 ratio. The sensitivity and specificity of SIRS, qSOFA, and MEW criteria for identifying sepsis were calculated. Data including potential risk factors, vital signs, laboratory values, and clinical management were collected for cases and controls. RESULTS: Eighty-two sepsis cases during the delivery hospitalization were identified and matched to 328 controls. The most common causes of sepsis were the following: chorioamnionitis 20 (24.4%), endometritis 19 (23.2%), and pneumonia 9 (11.0%). Escherichia coli 12 (14.6%), other Gram-negative rods 8 (9.8%), and group A Streptococcus 6 (7.3%) were the most commonly found pathogens. The sensitivities and specificities for meeting criteria for screening tools were as follows: (1) SIRS (0.93, 0.63); (2) qSOFA (0.50, 0.95); and (3) MEW criteria for identifying sepsis (0.82, 0.87). Of 82 women with sepsis, 10 (12.2%) died. The mortality rate for those who received antibiotics within 1 hour of diagnosis was 8.3%. The mortality rate was 20% for the patients who received antibiotics after >1 hour. CONCLUSIONS: Chorioamnionitis and endometritis were the most common causes of sepsis, together accounting for about half of cases. Notable differences were observed in the sensitivity and specificity of sepsis screening tools with the highest to lowest sensitivity being SIRS, MEW, and qSOFA criteria, and the highest to lowest specificity being qSOFA, MEW, and SIRS. Mortality was doubled in the cohort of patients who received antibiotics after >1 hour. Clinicians need to be vigilant to identify cases of peripartum sepsis early in its course and prioritize timely antibiotic therapy.

Maternal leukocytosis after antenatal corticosteroid administration: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Although it is known that corticosteroid administration causes leukocytosis, the magnitude and length of time this leukocytosis persists is unknown during pregnancy. This study aimed to establish the expected range of maternal leukocytosis in healthy pregnant women at risk for preterm delivery after antenatal corticosteroid administration. PubMed, Embase and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched to identify the studies in healthy women at risk for preterm delivery without signs of clinical infection that reported white blood cell values preceding and after antenatal corticosteroid administration. The inverse variance weighting technique was used to calculate the weighted means and the standard deviation from the mean for each time period. Six studies met inclusion criteria and included 524 patients and 1406 observations. Mean ± standard deviation maternal white blood cell count values prior to antenatal corticosteroid administration and up to 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after corticosteroid administration were 10.4 ± 2.4, 13.6 ± 3.6, 12.1 ± 3.0, 11.5 ± 2.9 and 11.1 ± 2.5 × 109/L, respectively. Leukocytosis in healthy, non-infected women is expected to peak 24 hours after antenatal corticosteroid administration and the magnitude of increase is small. Impact statement What is already known on this subject: While it is well known that administration of antenatal corticosteroids causes leukocytosis, it is currently unknown the magnitude and length of time the leukocytosis persists. What the results of this study add: This study establishes the expected range and the temporal progression and regression with antenatal corticosteroid administration in healthy pregnant women at risk for preterm delivery without clinical signs of infection. What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research: Clinicians may wish to consider further investigation into the clinical cause, whether infectious or non-infectious, for absolute values and changes outside this range.

Grebe dysplasia - prenatal diagnosis based on rendered 3-D ultrasound images of fetal limbs.

Grebe dysplasia is a rare skeletal dysplasia characterized by severe acromesomelic shortening of the long bones in a proximal to distal gradient of severity, with bones of the hands and feet more severely affected than those of the forearms and legs, which in turn are more severely affected than the humeri and femora. In addition, the bones of the lower extremities tend to be more severely affected than the bones of the upper extremities. Despite the severe skeletal deformities, the condition is not lethal and surviving individuals can have normal intelligence. Herein we report a case of Grebe dysplasia diagnosed at 20 weeks of gestation. Rendered 3-D ultrasound images of the fetal limbs, particularly of the characteristic tiny and globular-looking fingers and toes, were instrumental in accurately characterizing the phenotype prenatally.

Genetic deletion of TNFα inhibits ultraviolet radiation-induced development of cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas in PKCε transgenic mice via inhibition of cell survival signals.

Protein kinase C epsilon (PKCε), a Ca(2+)-independent phospholipid-dependent serine/threonine kinase, is among the six PKC isoforms (α, δ, ε, η, µ, ζ) expressed in both mouse and human skin. Epidermal PKCε level dictates the susceptibility of PKCε transgenic (TG) mice to the development of cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) elicited either by repeated exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) or by using the DMBA initiation-TPA (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate) tumor promotion protocol (Wheeler,D.L. et al. (2004) Protein kinase C epsilon is an endogenous photosensitizer that enhances ultraviolet radiation-induced cutaneous damage and development of squamous cell carcinomas. Cancer Res., 64, 7756-7765). Histologically, SCC in TG mice, like human SCC, is poorly differentiated and metastatic. Our earlier studies to elucidate mechanisms of PKCε-mediated development of SCC, using either DMBA-TPA or UVR, indicated elevated release of cytokine TNFα. To determine whether TNFα is essential for the development of SCC in TG mice, we generated PKCε transgenic mice/TNFα-knockout (TG/TNFαKO) by crossbreeding TNFαKO with TG mice. We now present that deletion of TNFα in TG mice inhibited the development of SCC either by repeated UVR exposures or by the DMBA-TPA protocol. TG mice deficient in TNFα elicited both increase in SCC latency and decrease in SCC incidence. Inhibition of UVR-induced SCC development in TG/TNFαKO was accompanied by inhibition of (i) the expression levels of TNFα receptors TNFRI and TNFRII and cell proliferation marker ornithine decarboxylase and metastatic markers MMP7 and MMP9, (ii) the activation of transcription factors Stat3 and NF-kB and (iii) proliferation of hair follicle stem cells and epidermal hyperplasia. The results presented here provide the first genetic evidence that TNFα is linked to PKCε-mediated sensitivity to DMBA-TPA or UVR-induced development of cutaneous SCC.

Validation of metabolomic models for prediction of early-onset preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to perform validation studies of previously published and newly derived first-trimester metabolomic algorithms for prediction of early preeclampsia (PE). STUDY DESIGN: Nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabolomic analysis was performed on first-trimester serum in 50 women who subsequently developed early PE and in 108 first-trimester controls. Random stratification and allocation was used to divide cases into a discovery group (30 early PE and 65 controls) for generation of the biomarker model(s) and a validation group (20 early PE and 43 controls) to ensure an unbiased assessment of the predictive algorithms. Cross-validation testing on the different algorithms was performed to confirm their robustness before use. Metabolites, demographic features, clinical characteristics, and uterine Doppler pulsatility index data were evaluated. Area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC), 95% confidence interval (CI), sensitivity, and specificity of the biomarker models were derived. RESULTS: Validation testing found that the metabolite-only model had an AUC of 0.835 (95% CI, 0.769-0.941) with a 75% sensitivity and 74.4% specificity and for the metabolites plus uterine Doppler pulsatility index model it was 0.916 (95% CI, 0.836-0.996), 90%, and 88.4%, respectively. Predictive metabolites included arginine and 2-hydroxybutyrate, which are known to be involved in vascular dilation, and insulin resistance and impaired glucose regulation, respectively. CONCLUSION: We found confirmatory evidence that first-trimester metabolomic biomarkers can predict future development of early PE.

Gastroschisis: incidence and prediction of growth restriction.

AIMS: Fetuses with gastroschisis are at increased risk of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). However, there is a tendency for underestimation of fetal abdominal circumference and hence fetal weight, leading to overdiagnosis of IUGR. Our objective was to evaluate the accuracy of ultrasound for the prediction of being small for gestational age (SGA) at birth in these cases. METHODS: A retrospective study of prenatally diagnosed cases of gastroschisis was conducted at a tertiary center. Fetal weight was estimated using the formula of Hadlock. IUGR was defined as an estimated fetal weight ≤10th percentile for gestational age. SGA at the time of birth was defined as a birth weight ≤10th percentile for gestational age. The incidence of IUGR on last ultrasound and that of SGA at birth were calculated, and the precision of ultrasound in predicting SGA was determined. RESULTS: IUGR was reported on the last ultrasound prior to delivery in 9/25 cases (36%). Postnatally, 13/25 newborns (52%) were SGA. All sonographically suspected cases of IUGR based on the last ultrasound were SGA at birth. The positive predictive value of the last ultrasound in identifying SGA was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: At least half of the infants affected by gastroschisis were SGA at birth. Sonographic estimation of fetal weight within 1 month of birth reliably predicted SGA in infants with gastroschisis.

Ensuring safe and equitable discharge: a quality improvement initiative for individuals with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To improve timely and equitable access to postpartum blood pressure (BP) monitoring in individuals with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). METHODS: A quality improvement initiative was implemented at a large academic medical centre in the USA for postpartum individuals with HDP. The primary aim was to increase completed BP checks within 7 days of hospital discharge from 40% to 70% in people with HDP in 6 months. Secondary aims included improving rates of scheduled visits, completed visits within 3 days for severe HDP and unattended visits. The balancing measure was readmission rate. Statistical process control charts were used, and data were stratified by race and ethnicity. Direct feedback from birthing individuals was obtained through phone interviews with a focus on black birthing people after a racial disparity was noted in unattended visits. RESULTS: Statistically significant improvements were noted across all measures. Completed and scheduled visits within 7 days of discharge improved from 40% to 76% and 61% to 90%, respectively. Completed visits within 3 days for individuals with severe HDP improved from 9% to 49%. The unattended visit rate was 26% at baseline with non-Hispanic black individuals 2.3 times more likely to experience an unattended visit than non-Hispanic white counterparts. The unattended visit rate decreased to 15% overall with an elimination of disparity. A need for BP devices at discharge and enhanced education for black individuals was identified through patient feedback. CONCLUSION: Timely follow-up of postpartum individuals with HDP is challenging and requires modification to our care delivery. A hospital-level quality improvement initiative using birthing individual and frontline feedback is illustrated to improve equitable, person-centred care.

Suboptimally Controlled Diabetes in Pregnancy: A Review to Guide Antepartum and Delivery Management.

Importance: Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common complications in pregnancy with adverse maternal and neonatal risks proportional to the degree of suboptimal glycemic control, which is not well defined. Literature guiding providers in identifying and managing patients at highest risk of complications from diabetes is lacking. Objective: This article reviews the definition, epidemiology, and pathophysiology of suboptimal control of diabetes in pregnancy, including "diabetic fetopathy"; explores proposed methods of risk stratification for patients with diabetes; outlines existing antepartum management and delivery timing guidelines; and guides direction for future research. Evidence Acquisition: Original research articles, review articles, and professional society guidelines on diabetes management in pregnancy were reviewed. Results: The reviewed available studies demonstrate worsening maternal and neonatal outcomes associated with suboptimal control; however, the definition of suboptimal based on parameters followed in pregnancy such as blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c, and fetal growth varied from study to study. Studies demonstrating specific associations of adverse outcomes with defined suboptimal control were reviewed and synthesized. Professional society recommendations were also reviewed to summarize current guidelines on antepartum management and delivery planning with respect to diabetes in pregnancy. Conclusions: The literature heterogeneously characterizes suboptimal glucose control and complications related to this during pregnancy in individuals with diabetes. Further research into antepartum management and delivery timing for patients with varying levels of glycemic control and at highest risk for diabetic complications is still needed.

Maternal sepsis mortality and morbidity during hospitalization for delivery: temporal trends and independent associations for severe sepsis.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis is currently the leading cause of direct maternal death in the United Kingdom. In this study, we aimed to determine frequency, temporal trends, and independent associations for severe sepsis during hospitalization for delivery in the United States. METHODS: Data were obtained from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample for the years 1998 through 2008. The presence of severe sepsis was identified by the appropriate International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess temporal trends for sepsis, severe sepsis, and sepsis-related death and also to identify independent associations of severe sepsis. RESULTS: Of an estimated 44,999,260 hospitalizations for delivery, sepsis complicated 1:3333 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1:3151-1:3540) deliveries, severe sepsis complicated 1:10,823 (95% CI, 1:10,000-1:11,792) deliveries, and sepsis-related death complicated 1:105,263 (95% CI, 1:83,333-1:131,579) deliveries. While the overall frequency of sepsis was stable(P = 0.95), the risk of severe sepsis and sepsis-related death increased during the study period, (P < 0.001) and (P = 0.02), respectively. Independent associations for severe sepsis, with an adjusted odds ratio and lower bound 95% CI higher than 3, include congestive heart failure, chronic liver disease, chronic renal disease, systemic lupus erythematous, and rescue cerclage placement. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal severe sepsis and sepsis-related deaths are increasing in the United States. Severe sepsis often occurs in the absence of a recognized risk factor and underscores the need for developing systems of care that increase sensitivity for disease detection across the entire population. Physicians should enhance surveillance in patients with congestive heart failure, chronic liver disease, chronic renal disease, and systemic lupus erythematous and institute early treatment when signs of sepsis are emerging.

Peripartum management of dual antiplatelet therapy and neuraxial labor analgesia after bare metal stent insertion for acute myocardial infarction.

A 31-year-old woman at 32 weeks' gestation presented with an ST segment elevation myocardial infarction with subsequent bare metal stent placement. A multidisciplinary team coordinated the delivery plan, including anticoagulation and delivery mode. Because the patient was at high risk for stent thrombosis, clopidogrel was discontinued after 4 weeks and bridged with eptifibatide for 7 days. Eptifibatide was stopped for induction of labor. Twelve hours after eptifibatide was discontinued, hemostatic function was assessed with thromboelastography before initiating neuraxial analgesia. A successful operative vaginal delivery was performed, followed by an uncomplicated recovery. Clopidogrel was resumed 24 hours postpartum.

Early fetal echocardiography: ready for prime time?

The objective of this study was to examine the performance of early fetal echocardiography as a screening tool for major cardiac defects in a high-risk population. Fetal echocardiograms performed at 12 to 16 weeks were reviewed. Cases that did not undergo a follow-up echocardiogram at 18 to 22 weeks were excluded. Results of the early and follow-up echocardiograms were compared. Over a 4-year period, 119 early fetal echocardiograms were recorded. Of those, 81 (68%) had follow-up fetal echocardiograms. Results of the early echocardiogram were normal in 77 of 81 (95.1%) cases. Of these, the follow-up was normal in 75 of these 77 cases; in the remaining 2, the follow-up raised suspicion for a ventricular septal defect (VSD) in one and persistent left superior vena cava in the other. On the other hand, the early echocardiogram was abnormal in 4 (4.9%) cases: (1) atrioventricular canal defect, with the follow-up demonstrating a VSD; (2) hypoplastic right ventricle and transposition of the great arteries, confirmed on follow-up; (3) VSD and coarctation of the aorta, confirmed on follow-up. In the fourth case, the early echocardiogram suspected a VSD and right-left disproportion, yet the follow-up was normal. In conclusion, early fetal echocardiography appears to be a reasonable screening tool for major cardiac defects.

Roundup negatively impacts the behavior and nerve function of the Madagascar hissing cockroach (Gromphadorhina portentosa).

Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup formulations. Glyphosate-based herbicides are used globally in agriculture, forestry, horticulture, and in urban settings. Glyphosate can persist for years in our soil, potentially impacting the soil-dwelling arthropods that are primary drivers of a suite of ecosystem services. Furthermore, although glyphosate is not generally classified as neurotoxic to insects, evidence suggests that it may cause nerve damage in other organisms. In a series of experiments, we used food to deliver environmentally realistic amounts of Roundup ready-to-use III, a common 2% glyphosate-based herbicide formulation that lists isopropylamine salt as its active ingredient, to Madagascar hissing cockroaches. We then assessed the impact of contamination on body mass, nerve health, and behavior. Contaminated food contained both 30.6 mg glyphosate and so-called inert ingredients. Food was refreshed weekly for 26-60 days, depending on the experiment. We found that consumption of contaminated food did not impact adult and juvenile survivorship or body weight. However, consumption of contaminated food decreased ventral nerve cord action-potential velocity by 32%, caused a 29% increase in respiration rate, and caused a 74.4% decrease in time spent on a motorized exercise wheel. Such changes in behavior may make cockroaches less capable of fulfilling their ecological service, such as pollinating or decomposing litter. Furthermore, their lack of coordination may make them more susceptible to predation, putting their population at risk. Given the decline of terrestrial insect abundance, understanding common risks to terrestrial insect populations has never been more critical. Results from our experiments add to the growing body of literature suggesting that this popular herbicide can act as a neurotoxin.

Impact of antenatal selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor exposure on pregnancy outcomes in mice.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigates fluoxetine (FLX) exposure as an etiology for altered gestational length and adverse pregnancy outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Two experiments were performed exposing mice to drinking water (H(2)O) or H(2)O+FLX. Primary outcomes included gestational length, litter size, and live birth rate. In experiment 1, time-mated dams were monitored for spontaneous birth, and gestational length was calculated. In experiment 2, dams were dissected on day 14 to verify litter size and qualities of embryo implantation. RESULTS: There was no difference in gestational length between H(2)O dams (480.7 ± 13.2 hours) and H(2)O+FLX dams (483.5 ± 10.1 hours), P = .70. Mean litter size was decreased in H(2)O+FLX dams (4.1 ± 1.3/litter) compared to H(2)O dams (5.5 ± 1.9/litter), P = .04. H(2)O+FLX dams were less likely to have live births (25.4%) compared to H(2)O dams (49.3%), P = .01. CONCLUSION: Antenatal FLX exposure did not statistically alter gestational length, but did affect litter size and spontaneous loss in mice. This warrants further investigation.

Labor epidural analgesia and the risk of postpartum depression: A meta-analysis of observational studies.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: This study aims to systematically review the literature to evaluate the association between labor epidural analgesia (LEA) and postpartum depression (PPD). DESIGN: Meta-analysis. SETTING: Obstetric patients delivering vaginally with or without LEA in a hospital. INTERVENTIONS: This study aimed to investigate the effects of providing LEA on developing PPD. MEASUREMENTS: Pooled odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using the random effects model. RESULTS: A total of 356 full text articles were reviewed. Eleven articles studying 85,928 patients met inclusion criteria. The pooled unadjusted OR 1.03 and 95% CI (0.77, 1.37) suggest that LEA is not associated with a decreased risk of developing PPD. CONCLUSIONS: Labor epidural analgesia was not shown to confer protection against developing PPD according to this meta-analysis. Future studies are needed to explore whether other aspects of LEA, beyond its presence or absence, influence the onset of PPD.

The Zika virus and pregnancy: evidence, management, and prevention.

OBJECTIVE: To comprehensively review the available evidence and existing consensus reports and guidelines regarding the pregnancy and reproductive implications of the mosquito-transmitted Zika virus (ZIKV) infection. A primary focus was to provide pertinent information to aid clinicians in the management of pregnancies at risk for, exposed to, or with confirmed ZIKV infection. METHOD: An extensive literature review was performed using Pubmed. Practice guidelines and consensus reports were accessed from international, national, and professional organizations' websites. The clinical articles for ZIKV infection testing varied from case reports to small epidemiologic studies. RESULTS: A ZIKV epidemic has been declared in several countries in the Americas. Fifty-two travel-associated ZIKV infection cases have been reported throughout the USA (as of February 10, 2016). The consequences of congenital fetal/newborn ZIKV infection could potentially have devastating consequences including miscarriage, fetal death, and major anomalies such as microcephaly, brain and brain-stem defects, and long-term neurologic sequelae. While not definitive, current evidence suggests the existence of nonvector-borne transmission through sexual activity with an infected male partner. For women at risk for sexual transmission, condom use is advised, especially during pregnancy. CONCLUSION: While ZIKV infection appears to be a mild disease in the general population the potential consequences to the fetus and newborn could be profound. Management guidelines are currently evolving and will be significantly impacted as new evidence develops. It is therefore imperative that obstetric health-care providers keep abreast of this rapidly evolving information landscape that has so far characterized this outbreak.