Infections transmitted from the mother to the fetus: diagnostic issues and management of pregnancy

Some infections are considered as feared risks during pregnancy. These infections may lead to severe damage of the fetus or the newborn depending on the infectious agent and the term of pregnancy where the infection occurred. Antenatal screening (in France it concerns toxoplasmosis, rubella, syphilis and hepatitis B) play an important role in prevention and management of vertically transmissible infections. However, biological diagnosis is also essential when maternal/neo-natal clinical symptoms or abnormal ultrasound findings are observed. In this article we chose to focus on rubella, varicella, syphilis, toxoplasmosis, hepatitis B and cytomegalovirus and parvovirus infections.