Poor perinatal outcome associated with maternal Brucella abortus infection.
BACKGROUND
Reports suggest that perinatal infection with Brucella abortus does not cause poor obstetric outcomes, because of protective mechanisms in the human, not seen in animal species.


METHODS
We report a case of maternal brucellosis resulting in preterm labor, chorioamnionitis, placental abruption, and delivery of a live-born infant at 25 weeks' gestational age. Both maternal blood cultures and amniotic fluid cultures were positive for B abortus species, and delivery occurred despite aggressive antibiotic and tocolytic therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Maternal infection with B abortus during pregnancy can lead to significant perinatal morbidity, casting doubt on reports that human pregnancy is resistant to such infection.
Malone
F D
FD
Division of Material-Fetal Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, New England Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, USA. fergal.malone@es.nemc.org
Athanassiou
A
A
Nores
L A
LA
Dalton
M E
ME
D000328:Adult; D002003:Brucella abortus; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000382:microbiology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome