• ACVC Callout
News
ICViewExpert PerspectivesMedical World NewsVideosWebinars
Conference
Infection Control TodaySupplements And Featured Publications
CME/CEJob BoardPartnersSponsoredWhitepapers
Print SubscriptioneNewsletter
Educator of the Year Nomination FormEducator of the Year Official RulesEducator of the Year
Advanced Technology
Bug of the Month
COVID-19
Environmental Services
HAIs
Hand Hygiene
Long-Term Care
Operating Room
Personal Protective EquipmentPersonal Protective Equipment
Prevention
Sterile Processing
Surface Disinfection
Vascular Access
Spotlight -
  • Expert Perspectives on Personal Protection Guidelines and Standardization Practices
  • Bug of the Month
Advanced Technology
Bug of the Month
COVID-19
Environmental Services
HAIs
Hand Hygiene
Long-Term Care
Operating Room
Personal Protective EquipmentPersonal Protective Equipment
Prevention
Sterile Processing
Surface Disinfection
Vascular Access
    • News
    • Conference
Advertisement

Potential Biomarkers Linked to UTI-Related Pregnancy Complications Identified

March 22, 2012
Article

Investigators at the Research Institute at Nationwide Childrens Hospital have developed a mouse model in which a mothers urinary tract infection negatively affects the offspring, an occurrence anecdotally observed in humans. Using this first-of-its-kind model, they have identified proteins in the blood that may indicate whether such an infection might stunt fetal growth. Study findings have been published in the March 21, 2012 edition of PLoS ONE.

Nearly 50 percent of all women are affected by urinary tract infections (UTIs). Although most UTIs rarely cause complications in the general population, UTIs during pregnancy can impact the developing fetus, raising the risk for prematurity, low birth weight and possibly childhood asthma. In fact, all pregnant women are routinely screened for UTIs during the first trimester and repeatedly for high-risk patients.

Mouse models have been helpful in understanding the immunological changes that occur during pregnancy when a mother develops an infection within the uterus. Yet, no animal model exists to show how side-effects of a localized infection outside of the uterus, such as bladder inflammation from a urinary tract infection, impact a developing fetus.

Observations that an infection isolated to the urinary tract is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes have been anecdotal, says Sheryl S. Justice, PhD, principal investigator in the Center for Microbial Pathogenesis at the Research Institute at Nationwide Childrens Hospital and lead study author. The effects that bladder inflammation and other infection symptoms have on pregnancy have not been fully characterized in humans. Currently, there are no reliable biomarkers to indicate whether urinary tract infected pregnant womens babies are at risk for poor outcomes. Justice is also a faculty member at the Ohio State University College of Medicine.

To examine such a scenario, Justice and fellow investigators at Nationwide Childrens developed a mouse model of urinary tract infection in pregnant mice. Due to the short gestational length of the mouse, they were unable to observe premature delivery under experimental conditions. However, the offspring of mothers that experienced experimental UTI displayed up to 80 percent decrease in fetal weight when compared to non-infected mothers.

Blood draws showed significant differences in pro-inflammatory proteins between infected mothers and non-infected mothers days before delivery. The inflammatory response in the uterus was more severe than in the kidney, suggesting that the tissue of the placenta may be more susceptible to changes in immune status than other nearby organs, says Justice.

The lowest offspring weight correlated with the highest serum levels of the inflammatory protein IL-6. Our findings strongly suggest that serum levels of IL-6 may be linked to poor growth of the baby within the womb, says Justice. We are now positioned to investigate these proteins as potential biomarkers that may have predictive value to identify a fetus as risk for UTI-induced prematurity.

Related Videos
Set of white bottles with cleaning liquids on the white background. (Adobe Stock 6338071172112 by zolnierek)
Medical investigators going over data. (AdobeStock 589197902 by Wasan)
CDC logo is seen on a laptop. (Adobe Stock 428450603 by monticellllo)
Association for the Health Care Environment (Logo used with permission)
COVID-19 germs, fungi, bacteria objects. (Adobe Stock 584704860 by chawalit)
Ambassador Deborah Birx, , speaks with Infection Control Today about masks in schools and the newest variant.
mRNA technology  (Adobe Stock 485886181 by kaptn)
Ambassador Deborah Birx, MD
Woman lying in hospital bed (Adobe Stock, unknown)
Related Content

Low Vaccination Concerns Highlight Need for Fall and Winter 2023 Vaccination Campaigns

September 28th 2023

Evolving Symptomatology: Respiratory Viruses in the Era of COVID-19 Variants

September 27th 2023

I’m Not Just an Infection Preventionist

September 26th 2023

Poll: What Minimum Educational Requirement Should Infection Preventionists Have?

September 25th 2023

How to Prepare For Possible “Tripledemic” of RSV, Influenza, and SARS-CoV-2

September 25th 2023

Weekly Rounds: Data-Driven Action Against COVID-19, Emerging Pathogens, HIV Vaccine Trials Begin, and More

September 22nd 2023

Low Vaccination Concerns Highlight Need for Fall and Winter 2023 Vaccination Campaigns

September 28th 2023

Evolving Symptomatology: Respiratory Viruses in the Era of COVID-19 Variants

September 27th 2023

I’m Not Just an Infection Preventionist

September 26th 2023

Poll: What Minimum Educational Requirement Should Infection Preventionists Have?

September 25th 2023

How to Prepare For Possible “Tripledemic” of RSV, Influenza, and SARS-CoV-2

September 25th 2023

Weekly Rounds: Data-Driven Action Against COVID-19, Emerging Pathogens, HIV Vaccine Trials Begin, and More

September 22nd 2023

Low Vaccination Concerns Highlight Need for Fall and Winter 2023 Vaccination Campaigns

September 28th 2023

Evolving Symptomatology: Respiratory Viruses in the Era of COVID-19 Variants

September 27th 2023

I’m Not Just an Infection Preventionist

September 26th 2023

Poll: What Minimum Educational Requirement Should Infection Preventionists Have?

September 25th 2023

How to Prepare For Possible “Tripledemic” of RSV, Influenza, and SARS-CoV-2

September 25th 2023

Weekly Rounds: Data-Driven Action Against COVID-19, Emerging Pathogens, HIV Vaccine Trials Begin, and More

September 22nd 2023
Related Content
Advertisement

In this photo illustration, National Foundation for Infectious Diseases logo is seen displayed on a smartphone    (Adobe Stock 346303670 By Игорь Головнёв)

Low Vaccination Concerns Highlight Need for Fall and Winter 2023 Vaccination Campaigns

September 28th 2023
Article

Cases of COVID-19, RSV, and influenza are expected to rise this fall and winter season; yet, the number of people who plan on getting the vaccines for each of the infections remains low, according to the NFID announcement today.


COVID-19 germs, fungi, bacteria objects.   (Adobe Stock 584704860 by chawalit)

Evolving Symptomatology: Respiratory Viruses in the Era of COVID-19 Variants

September 27th 2023
Article

As COVID-19 restrictions eased up, other respiratory viruses began circulating alongside SARS-CoV-2. It's crucial to identify cases and understand the symptoms of these infections to track the evolution of the virus and what health care workers should look out for.


An infection preventionist taking off her mask. (Adobe Stock, unknown)

I’m Not Just an Infection Preventionist

September 26th 2023
Article

Infection preventionists (IP) can come from many different backgrounds. This is 1 opinion from 1 very successful IP who doesn't have an RN or a BSN and the bullying that sometimes occurs.


(Adobe Stock FILE #:  56169337 by thinglass)

Poll: What Minimum Educational Requirement Should Infection Preventionists Have?

September 25th 2023
Article

Many infection preventionists (IPs) disagree on the minimum requirement to have the IP position. Let Infection Control Today know your opinion. Answer this poll, and send your thoughts to Senior Editor Tori Whitacre Martonicz at tmartonicz@mjhlifesciences.com.


Influenza, RSV, and COVID-19 (AdobeStock_249346161, AdobeStock_538653843,AdobeStock_471755796)

How to Prepare For Possible “Tripledemic” of RSV, Influenza, and SARS-CoV-2

September 25th 2023
Article

The interaction between the respiratory viruses SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and RSV, poses ongoing challenges. Personal protective measures, testing, and vaccination are critical components of our strategy to mitigate the impact of these viruses.


weekly rounds with infection control today

Weekly Rounds: Data-Driven Action Against COVID-19, Emerging Pathogens, HIV Vaccine Trials Begin, and More

September 22nd 2023
Article

Take 5 minutes to catch up on Infection Control Today®’s highlights for the week ending September 24, 2023.

Advertise
About Us
Editorial Board
Contact Us
Job Board
Terms and Conditions
Privacy
Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Contact Info

2 Clarke Drive
Cranbury, NJ 08512

609-716-7777

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.
Home
About Us
News