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Survey of obstetrician-gynecologists in the United States about toxoplasmosis: 2012 update

  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Toxoplasmosis, caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, can have serious impacts on fetal development in the setting of acute maternal primary infection. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) sought to determine current knowledge, practices, opinions, and educational preferences regarding T. gondii infection in pregnancy among ACOG members practicing prenatal care.

Methods

ACOG sent a survey to 1,056 members chosen by stratified random sampling from membership lists, including 370 participants and 686 non-participants in the Collaborative Ambulatory Research Network (CARN). Mailings were sent up to four times to nonresponders.

Results

Survey minimum response rates were 40.3 % (CARN) and 19.7 % (non-CARN); response rates adjusted for imputed non-eligibility were 59.7 % (CARN) and 22.6 % (non-CARN). Among providers, 80.2 % had diagnosed no acute maternal T. gondii infections in the past 5 years, 12.7 % correctly identified the screening role of the Toxoplasma avidity test, 42.6 % performed serologic T. gondii screening for at least some asymptomatic pregnant women, and 62.1 % of those who so did used appropriate approaches. Providers in the northeastern United States were 2.02 times more likely to routinely screen than those in the west (p = 0.025) and female providers were 1.48 times more likely than male providers (p = 0.047). The potential educational interventions considered useful by the most practitioners were updated ACOG guidelines on screening (81.4 %) and management (71.7 %) for acute T. gondii infection in pregnancy.

Conclusions

ACOG members would benefit from educational efforts targeted at risk factor counseling and screening approaches.

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Notes

  1. “Acceptable” screening methods included checking both IgG and IgM; checking IgG alone repeatedly (allowing ascertainment of seroconversion); or checking IgM if then confirmed with IgM and IgG.

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Acknowledgments

This study is funded in part by grant UA6MC19010, through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Research Program.

Conflict of interest

Authors have no conflicts of interest.

Ethical standards

This manuscript does not contain clinical studies or patient data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Global HIV/AIDS, HIV Prevention Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Stephanie M. Davis

  2. Department of Research, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Washington, DC, USA

    Britta L. Anderson, Jay Schulkin & Katherine Jones

  3. Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Jodi Vanden Eng & Jeffrey L. Jones

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  1. Stephanie M. Davis
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Correspondence to Stephanie M. Davis.

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Davis, S.M., Anderson, B.L., Schulkin, J. et al. Survey of obstetrician-gynecologists in the United States about toxoplasmosis: 2012 update. Arch Gynecol Obstet 291, 545–555 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-014-3450-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-014-3450-y

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