J Jiménez Cruz, R Axt-Fliedner, C Berg, F Faschingbauer, K O Kagan, J Knabl, A Lauten, H Lehmann, H Stepan, M Tavares de Sousa, S Verlohren, U Germer, J Weichert, B Strizek, A Geipel
Objective: To investigate the ongoing parvovirus B19 (B19V) outbreak among pregnant women in Germany and its connection to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed anonymous data regarding serologically confirmed B19V infections during pregnancy between January 2014 and April 2024 across 13 major fetal medicine centers in Germany. We evaluated the yearly frequency of B19V cases, cases that underwent intrauterine transfusion (IUT), cases presenting with hydrops fetalis and cases of intrauterine fetal death (IUFD) related to B19V infection, and stratified these variables by event occurrence < 20 weeks' gestation or ≥ 20 weeks' gestation. Variables were compared across three subperiods: pre COVID-19 pandemic, during the COVID-19 pandemic and post COVID-19 pandemic.
Results: Data from 918 pregnant women with confirmed B19V infection revealed a significant B19V outbreak since the end of 2023. The mean ± SD number of annual cases was 57.3 ± 20.7 pre COVID-19, 20.3 ± 13.5 during COVID-19 and surged to 384.8 ± 299.8 post COVID-19 (P < 0.01). Correspondingly, the number of cases in which the fetus underwent IUT increased post COVID-19. The proportion of B19V diagnoses made before 20 weeks' gestation increased from 32.3% pre COVID-19 to 53.2% post COVID-19 (P < 0.001).
期刊介绍:
Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology (UOG) is the official journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology (ISUOG) and is considered the foremost international peer-reviewed journal in the field. It publishes cutting-edge research that is highly relevant to clinical practice, which includes guidelines, expert commentaries, consensus statements, original articles, and systematic reviews. UOG is widely recognized and included in prominent abstract and indexing databases such as Index Medicus and Current Contents.