A risk factor is something that increases your likelihood of getting a disease or condition. It is possible to get an infection in pregnancy even if you do not have risk factors. Risk factors for infection in pregnancy vary depending on the type of infection. General risk factors for infection during pregnancy include: Poor Hygiene
Viruses and bacteria that cause infections are passed through person-to-person contact. You are at higher risk of spreading and getting infections caused by bacteria and viruses if you:
- Do not wash your hands.
- Touch your nose, mouth, and eyes with contaminated fingers.
Sexual Contact
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as
chlamydia,
gonorrhea, herpes simplex virus, and
HIV
are passed from person to person during sexual contact. Your risk for STDs is higher if you have had:
- Many sex partners
- Sex with someone who has had many partners
- Sex without using condoms
Contaminated Foods
Germs that cause infections such as listeriosis and
toxoplasmosis
have been found in:
- Uncooked meats
- Undercooked meat (such as rare beef) from infected animals
- Uncooked vegetables
- Unpasteurized milk
- Foods made from unpasteurized milk (eg, certain cheeses)
- Processed foods
Your risk for these infections is higher if you eat these foods. Lifestyle Factors Lifestyle risk factors include: - Having close contact with someone who has an infection
- Using household items that were used by an infected person and not properly cleaned
- Handling cat litter or soil where there is cat feces
-
Having a job that involves contact with bodily fluids, such as a:
- Childcare worker
- First aid or emergency worker
- Funeral director
- Healthcare worker
- Dentist
- Dental assistant
- Firefighter
- Police personnel
Bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy. American Pregnancy Association website. Available at:
http://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/bacterialvaginosis-2.html. Updated May 2005. Accessed October 4, 2012.
Chorioamnionitis. Cleveland Clinic website. Available at:
http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/3800/3857.asp?index=12309. Accessed October 4, 2012.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at:
http://www.cdc.gov/cmv/index.html. Updated July 28, 2010. Accessed October 4, 2012.
Group B Strep (GBS). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at:
http://www.cdc.gov/groupbstrep/index.html. Updated May 23, 2012. Accessed October 4, 2012.
Listeria and pregnancy. American Pregnancy Association website. Available at:
http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/listeria.html. Updated June 2011. Accessed October 4, 2012.
Pregnancy and fifth disease. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at:
http://www.cdc.gov/parvovirusB19/pregnancy.html. Updated February 14, 2011. Accessed October 4, 2012.
STDs and pregnancy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at:
http://www.cdc.gov/std/pregnancy/default.htm. Updated September 14, 2012. Accessed October 4, 2012.
Toxoplasmosis. American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at:
http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/diseases-conditions/toxoplasmosis.html. Updated January 2011. Accessed October 4, 2012.
Urinary tract infection during pregnancy. American Pregnancy Association website. Available at:
http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/utiduringpreg.html. Updated April 2006. Accessed October 4, 2012.
Varicella. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed. Updated August 21, 2012. Accessed October 4, 2012.
Last reviewed September 2012 by Andrea Chisholm Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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