title: The investigation of toxoplasma infection associated with pregnancy.
abstract: An audit was undertaken to determine case compliance with prenatal testing and investigation of infants for toxoplasma infection. Subsequently, the effect of enhanced reference unit Intervention was studied. The proportion of cases of toxoplasma infection associated with pregnancy completing an investigation programme was calculated. The effect of continued and short-term additional intervention was assessed and reasons for failure to comply were sought. The status of the child was established in 30% of cases when acute maternal toxoplasma infection was detected. Continuous reference unit intervention significantly improved case compliance to 45% over a 3-year period, but the effect was lost when the additional measures were withdrawn. Failure to complete the investigation procedure was associated with loss of patient-clinician contact and clinician/laboratory error. Enhanced intervention did not result in a significant improvement in compliance with the investigation programme for babies with clinical abnormality. The benefits of testing for toxoplasma infection associated with pregnancy are limited by failure to complete necessary investigations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, St. George's Hospital & Medical School, London, U.K.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hartup
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Holliman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008485:Medical Audit; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000628:therapy*; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000628:therapy*; D014125:Toxoplasmosis, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*