Study to Evaluate Association of Torch Infection with Bad Obstetric History in Pregnant Women at Sms Medical College and Attached Group of Hospitals, Jaipur

Background: Congenital infections are transmissible in utero and it can lead to serious foetal outcomes. These infections can be early detected in pregnant women with bad obstetric history for better foetal outcomes.

Aim of the Study was to evaluate the association of TORCH infection with bad obstetric history among pregnant women.

Study Design: Observational and comparative study

Place and Duration of Study: Central laboratory, Department of Microbiology, SMS Medical College, Jaipur between April 2020 and September 2021.

Methodology: 260 blood samples of pregnant women (130 with bad obstetric history and 130 pregnant women without bad obstetric history) were collected. and tested for the presence of IgM and IgG antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii, Rubella virus, Cytomegalovirus by Chemiluminescence and Herpes simplex virus using ELISA kits.

Results: Overall TORCH IgM seropositivity in high-risk pregnant women was 17.19%. In pregnant women with bad obstetric history, IgM Seropositivity for Toxoplasma gondii was 3.84% (P value .02), rubella 2.34% (P value .30), Cytomegalovirus 5.47% (P value .08), and 6.25% (P value .56) for Herpes-1 and 2 infections and IgG seropositivity for toxoplasma, rubella, cytomegalovirus and herpes virus was 16.41% (P value .001), 93.75% (P value .11), 98.44% (P value .55), 48.44% (P value .53) respectively. In pregnant women without bad obstetric history, IgM and IgG seropositivity for toxoplasma, rubella, cytomegalovirus and herpes virus was 0/0.77%, 0.76/97.69%, 1.53/99.23% and 4.61/44.62% respectively. The average age of the study population was 27.13 years.

Conclusion: As TORCH infections are transmissible in-utero in all the stages of pregnancy and contributes in neonatal and infant deaths, so early diagnosis and appropriate interventions necessary which help in proper management of the pregnant women.