pregnancy

Screening for Anxiety Disorders in Adults: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement

Author/s: 
US Preventive Services Task Force, Barry, M. J., Nicholson, W. K., Silverstein, M., Coker, T. R., Davidson, K. W., Davis, E. M., Donahue, K. E., Jaén, C. R., Li, L., Ogedegbe, G., Pbert, L., Roa, G., Ruiz, J. M., Stevermer, J., Tsevat, J., Underwood, S. M., Wong, J. B.

Importance: Anxiety disorders are commonly occurring mental health conditions. They are often unrecognized in primary care settings and substantial delays in treatment initiation occur.

Objective: The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) commissioned a systematic review to evaluate the benefits and harms of screening for anxiety disorders in asymptomatic adults.

Population: Asymptomatic adults 19 years or older, including pregnant and postpartum persons. Older adults are defined as those 65 years or older.

Evidence assessment: The USPSTF concludes with moderate certainty that screening for anxiety disorders in adults, including pregnant and postpartum persons, has a moderate net benefit. The USPSTF concludes that the evidence is insufficient on screening for anxiety disorders in older adults.

Recommendation: The USPSTF recommends screening for anxiety disorders in adults, including pregnant and postpartum persons. (B recommendation) The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for anxiety disorders in older adults. (I statement).

Screening for Depression and Suicide Risk in Adults US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement

Author/s: 
US Preventive Services Task Force, Barry, M. J., Nicholson, W. K., Silverstein, M., Chelmow, D., Coker, T. R., Davidson, K. W., Davis, E. M., Donahue, K. E., Jaén, C. R., Li, L., Ogedegbe, G., Pbert, L., Rao, G., Ruiz, J. M., Stevermer, J. J., Tsevat, J., Underwood, S. M., Wong, J. B.

IMPORTANCE Major depressive disorder (MDD), a common mental disorder in the US, may
have substantial impact on the lives of affected individuals. If left untreated, MDD can
interfere with daily functioning and can also be associated with an increased risk of
cardiovascular events, exacerbation of comorbid conditions, or increased mortality.

OBJECTIVE The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) commissioned a systematic
review to evaluate benefits and harms of screening, accuracy of screening, and benefits and
harms of treatment of MDD and suicide risk in asymptomatic adults that would be applicable
to primary care settings.

POPULATION Asymptomatic adults 19 years or older, including pregnant and postpartum
persons. Older adults are defined as those 65 years or older.

EVIDENCE ASSESSMENT The USPSTF concludes with moderate certainty that screening for
MDD in adults, including pregnant and postpartum persons and older adults, has a moderate
net benefit. The USPSTF concludes that the evidence is insufficient on the benefit and harms
of screening for suicide risk in adults, including pregnant and postpartum persons and older
adults.

RECOMMENDATION The USPSTF recommends screening for depression in the adult
population, including pregnant and postpartum persons and older adults. (B
recommendation) The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess
the balance of benefits and harms of screening for suicide risk in the adult population,
including pregnant and postpartum persons and older adults. (I statement)

A challenging diagnosis: hereditary angioedema presenting during pregnancy

Author/s: 
Chair, I., Lacuesta, G., Nash, C. M., Cook, V.

• Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare autosomal dominant
disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of painful (and
usually asymmetric) swelling without urticaria that leads to
substantial morbidity and even mortality (in the case of
laryngeal involvement) if left untreated.
• Delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis of HAE are common,
particularly during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
• Hereditary angioedema should be considered in the differential
diagnosis of any patient presenting with unexplained
abdominal pain and recurrent episodes of angioedema
(particularly if asymmetric in nature) without urticaria.
• Tests to confirm the diagnosis of HAE include measurement of
C4 and C1 inhibitor (INH) antigen and function.
• Successful pregnancy and delivery are possible in HAE with
proper medical management, which includes plasma-derived
C1-INH and collaboration with HAE specialists.

Acute Cholecystitis A Review

Author/s: 
Gallaher, J. R., Charles, A.

Importance Gallbladder disease affects approximately 20 million people in the US. Acute cholecystitis is diagnosed in approximately 200 000 people in the US each year.

Observations Gallstone-associated cystic duct obstruction is responsible for 90% to 95% of the cases of acute cholecystitis. Approximately 5% to 10% of patients with acute cholecystitis have acalculous cholecystitis, defined as acute inflammation of the gallbladder without gallstones, typically in the setting of severe critical illness. The typical presentation of acute cholecystitis consists of acute right upper quadrant pain, fever, and nausea that may be associated with eating and physical examination findings of right upper quadrant tenderness. Ultrasonography of the right upper quadrant has a sensitivity of approximately 81% and a specificity of approximately 83% for the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis. When an ultrasound result does not provide a definitive diagnosis, hepatobiliary scintigraphy (a nuclear medicine study that includes the intravenous injection of a radiotracer excreted in the bile) is the gold standard diagnostic test. Following diagnosis, early (performed within 1-3 days) vs late (performed after 3 days) laparoscopic cholecystectomy is associated with improved patient outcomes, including fewer composite postoperative complications (11.8% for early vs 34.4% for late), a shorter length of hospital stay (5.4 days vs 10.0 days), and lower hospital costs. During pregnancy, early laparoscopic cholecystectomy, compared with delayed operative management, is associated with a lower risk of maternal-fetal complications (1.6% for early vs 18.4% for delayed) and is recommended during all trimesters. In people older than 65 years of age, laparoscopic cholecystectomy is associated with lower mortality at 2-year follow-up (15.2%) compared with nonoperative management (29.3%). A percutaneous cholecystostomy tube, in which a drainage catheter is placed in the gallbladder lumen under image guidance, is an effective therapy for patients with an exceptionally high perioperative risk. However, percutaneous cholecystostomy tube placement in a randomized trial was associated with higher rates of postprocedural complications (65%) compared with laparoscopic cholecystectomy (12%). For patients with acalculous acute cholecystitis, percutaneous cholecystostomy tube should be reserved for patients who are severely ill at the time of diagnosis; all others should undergo a laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

COVID-19 and Pregnancy

Author/s: 
Walter, K.

Pregnant and recently pregnant individuals who become infected with the COVID-19 virus
are at high risk of requiring extra medical care.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
between January 22, 2020, and November 29, 2021, 148 327
pregnant individuals had documented infection with SARS-CoV-2
(the virus that causes COVID-19) and 241 had died of COVID-19.
Of the 121 973 pregnant people with information on hospitalization
available, 20.6% were hospitalized with COVID-19 or pregnancyrelated conditions.

Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, United States, 2021-22 Influenza Season

Author/s: 
Grohskopf, L. A., Alyanak, E., Ferdinands, J. M., Broder, K. R., Blanton, L. H., Talbot, H. K., Fry, A. M.

This report updates the 2020–21 recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) regarding the use of seasonal influenza vaccines in the United States (MMWR Recomm Rep 2020;69[No. RR-8]). Routine annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all persons aged ≥6 months who do not have contraindications. For each recipient, a licensed and age-appropriate vaccine should be used. ACIP makes no preferential recommendation for a specific vaccine when more than one licensed, recommended, and age-appropriate vaccine is available. During the 2021–22 influenza season, the following types of vaccines are expected to be available: inactivated influenza vaccines (IIV4s), recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV4), and live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV4).

The 2021–22 influenza season is expected to coincide with continued circulation of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Influenza vaccination of persons aged ≥6 months to reduce prevalence of illness caused by influenza will reduce symptoms that might be confused with those of COVID-19. Prevention of and reduction in the severity of influenza illness and reduction of outpatient visits, hospitalizations, and intensive care unit admissions through influenza vaccination also could alleviate stress on the U.S. health care system. Guidance for vaccine planning during the pandemic is available at https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pandemic-guidance/index.html. Recommendations for the use of COVID-19 vaccines are available at https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/acip-recs/vacc-specific/covid-19.html, and additional clinical guidance is available at https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/clinical-considerations/covid-19-v....

Updates described in this report reflect discussions during public meetings of ACIP that were held on October 28, 2020; February 25, 2021; and June 24, 2021. Primary updates to this report include the following six items. First, all seasonal influenza vaccines available in the United States for the 2021–22 season are expected to be quadrivalent. Second, the composition of 2021–22 U.S. influenza vaccines includes updates to the influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and influenza A(H3N2) components. U.S.-licensed influenza vaccines will contain hemagglutinin derived from an influenza A/Victoria/2570/2019 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus (for egg-based vaccines) or an influenza A/Wisconsin/588/2019 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus (for cell culture–based and recombinant vaccines), an influenza A/Cambodia/e0826360/2020 (H3N2)-like virus, an influenza B/Washington/02/2019 (Victoria lineage)-like virus, and an influenza B/Phuket/3073/2013 (Yamagata lineage)-like virus. Third, the approved age indication for the cell culture–based inactivated influenza vaccine, Flucelvax Quadrivalent (ccIIV4), has been expanded from ages ≥4 years to ages ≥2 years. Fourth, discussion of administration of influenza vaccines with other vaccines includes considerations for coadministration of influenza vaccines and COVID-19 vaccines. Providers should also consult current ACIP COVID-19 vaccine recommendations and CDC guidance concerning coadministration of these vaccines with influenza vaccines. Vaccines that are given at the same time should be administered in separate anatomic sites. Fifth, guidance concerning timing of influenza vaccination now states that vaccination soon after vaccine becomes available can be considered for pregnant women in the third trimester. As previously recommended, children who need 2 doses (children aged 6 months through 8 years who have never received influenza vaccine or who have not previously received a lifetime total of ≥2 doses) should receive their first dose as soon as possible after vaccine becomes available to allow the second dose (which must be administered ≥4 weeks later) to be received by the end of October. For nonpregnant adults, vaccination in July and August should be avoided unless there is concern that later vaccination might not be possible. Sixth, contraindications and precautions to the use of ccIIV4 and RIV4 have been modified, specifically with regard to persons with a history of severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) to an influenza vaccine. A history of a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of any egg-based IIV, LAIV, or RIV of any valency is a precaution to use of ccIIV4. A history of a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of any egg-based IIV, ccIIV, or LAIV of any valency is a precaution to use of RIV4. Use of ccIIV4 and RIV4 in such instances should occur in an inpatient or outpatient medical setting under supervision of a provider who can recognize and manage a severe allergic reaction; providers can also consider consulting with an allergist to help identify the vaccine component responsible for the reaction. For ccIIV4, history of a severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) to any ccIIV of any valency or any component of ccIIV4 is a contraindication to future use of ccIIV4. For RIV4, history of a severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) to any RIV of any valency or any component of RIV4 is a contraindication to future use of RIV4.

This report focuses on recommendations for the use of vaccines for the prevention and control of seasonal influenza during the 2021–22 influenza season in the United States. A brief summary of the recommendations and a link to the most recent Background Document containing additional information are available at https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/acip-recs/vacc-specific/flu.html. These recommendations apply to U.S.-licensed influenza vaccines used according to Food and Drug Administration–licensed indications. Updates and other information are available from CDC’s influenza website (https://www.cdc.gov/flu); vaccination and health care providers should check this site periodically for additional information.

Infant pacifier sanitization and risk of challenge-proven food allergy: A cohort study

Author/s: 
Soriano, V.X., Koplin, J.J., Forrester, M., Peters, R.L., O'Hely, M., Dharmage, S.C., Wright, R., Ranaganathan, S., Burgner, D., Thompson, K., Dwyer, T., Vuilerman, P., Ponsonby, A.

Background: Environmental microbial exposure plays a role in immune system development and susceptibility to food allergy.

Objective: We sought to investigate whether infant pacifier use during the first postnatal year, with further consideration of sanitization, alters the risk of food allergy by age 1 year.

Methods: The birth cohort recruited pregnant mothers at under 28 weeks' gestation in southeast Australia, with 894 families followed up when infants turned 1 year. Infants were excluded if born under 32 weeks, with a serious illness, major congenital malformation, or genetic disease. Questionnaire data, collected at recruitment and infant ages 1, 6, and 12 months, included pacifier use and pacifier sanitization (defined as the joint exposure of a pacifier and cleaning methods). Challenge-proven food allergy was assessed at 12 months.

Results: Any pacifier use at 6 months was associated with food allergy (adjusted odds ratio, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.04-3.61), but not pacifier use at other ages. This overall association was driven by the joint exposure of pacifier-antiseptic use (adjusted odds ratio, 4.83; 95% CI, 1.10-21.18) compared with no pacifier use. Using pacifiers without antiseptic at 6 months was not associated with food allergy. Among pacifier users, antiseptic cleaning was still associated with food allergy (adjusted odds ratio, 3.56; 95% CI, 1.18-10.77) compared with no antiseptic use. Furthermore, persistent and repeated antiseptic use over the first 6 months was associated with higher food allergy risk (P = .029).

Conclusions: This is the first report of a pacifier-antiseptic combination being associated with a higher risk of subsequent food allergy. Future work should investigate underlying biological pathways.

Keywords: Pacifier; antiseptic; birth cohort; dummy; food allergy; microbial exposure; sanitization.

Rethinking mechanisms, diagnosis and management of endometriosis

Author/s: 
Chapton, Charles, Marcellin, Louis, Borghese, Bruno, Santulli, Pietro

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease defined as the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus, which causes pelvic pain and infertility. This disease should be viewed as a public health problem with a major effect on the quality of life of women as well as being a substantial economic burden. In light of the considerable progress with diagnostic imaging (for example, transvaginal ultrasound and MRI), exploratory laparoscopy should no longer be used to diagnose endometriotic lesions. Instead, diagnosis of endometriosis should be based on a structured process involving the combination of patient interviews, clinical examination and imaging. Notably, a diagnosis of endometriosis often leads to immediate surgery. Therefore, rethinking the diagnosis and management of endometriosis is warranted. Instead of assessing endometriosis on the day of the diagnosis, gynaecologists should consider the patient's 'endometriosis life'. Medical treatment is the first-line therapeutic option for patients with pelvic pain and no desire for immediate pregnancy. In women with infertility, careful consideration should be made regarding whether to provide assisted reproductive technologies prior to performing endometriosis surgery. Modern endometriosis management should be individualized with a patient-centred, multi-modal and interdisciplinary integrated approach.

Interventions for Tobacco Smoking Cessation in Adults, Including Pregnant Persons: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement

Author/s: 
US Preventative Services task Force

Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of disease, disability, and death in the US. In 2014, it was estimated that 480 000 deaths annually are attributed to cigarette smoking, including second hand smoke exposure. Smoking during pregnancy can increase the risk of numerous adverse pregnancy outcomes (eg, miscarriage and congenital anomalies) and complications in the offspring (including sudden infant death syndrome and impaired lung function in childhood). In 2019, an estimated 50.6 million US adults (20.8% of the adult population) used tobacco; 14.0% of the US adult population currently smoked cigarettes and 4.5% of the adult population used electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). Among pregnant US women who gave birth in 2016, 7.2% reported smoking cigarettes while pregnant

A Review of the Pathophysiology and Management of Diabetes in Pregnancy

Author/s: 
Egan, A.M., Dow, M.L., Vella, A.

Diabetes is a common metabolic complication of pregnancy and affected women fall into two subgroups: women with pre-existing diabetes and those with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). When pregnancy is affected by diabetes, both mother and infant are at increased risk for multiple adverse outcomes. A multidisciplinary approach to care before, during, and after pregnancy is effective in reducing these risks. The PubMed database was searched for English language studies and guidelines relating to diabetes in pregnancy. The following search terms were used alone and in combination: diabetes, pregnancy, gestational diabetes, GDM, prepregnancy, and preconception. A date restriction was not applied. Results were reviewed by the authors and selected for inclusion based on relevance to the topic. Additional articles were identified by manually searching reference lists of included articles. Using data from this search we herein summarize the evidence relating to pathophysiology and management of diabetes in pregnancy. We discuss areas of controversy including the method and timing of diagnosis of GDM, and choice of pharmacologic agents to treat hyperglycemia during pregnancy. Therefore, this review is intended to serve as a practical guide for clinicians who are caring for women with diabetes and their infants.

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