La eclampsia es una de las patologías que más genera riesgos para la paciente obstétrica. El presente estudio tiene como objetivo identificar las características clínicas y epidemiológicas asociadas con el estado materno complicado con eclampsia. Es un estudio observacional, descriptivo de casos de pacientes con diagnóstico de eclampsia que consultaron al Hospital de Maternidad "Rafael Calvo" en Cartagena, Colombia entre el primero de enero de 1995 y el 31 de junio de 2001. Se atendió un total de 73.947 partos de los cuales 188 (0,25%) fueron pacientes que presentaban eclampsia, lo que representa un caso por cada 393 partos. La mayoría de las pacientes (58%) eran adolescentes, 64% eran primigestantes; 53% de los embarazos fueron a término y 45% de las mujeres no tenía control prenatal. Se presenta la correlación entre el número de convulsiones con la edad de la paciente y con la edad gestacional. Un mayor número de pacientes con eclampsia (86%) presentó convulsiones antes del parto, y 89% se desembarazaron en un lapso menor de 12 horas a partir de su ingreso al hospital. Se presentaron complicaciones en 14% de las pacientes, y las más frecuentes fueron: síndrome HELLP (7%) y desprendimiento prematuro de placenta normalmente inserta (3.1%). La incidencia de mortalidad fue de 2,2%, y la eclampsia fue responsable de 16% de todas las muertes maternas.La eclampsia se puede prevenir en un alto porcentaje de casos y ello se consigue con un buen control prenatal, que identifique al grupo con factores de riesgo, y minimizando los efectos deletéreos que causa la hipertensión inducida por el embarazo. El estudio permite evidenciar el manejo pronto e intervencionista - desde el punto de vista de finalización de la gestación - que se está adelantando en este centro en el manejo de la eclampsia, y coloca en evidencia las grandes deficiencias que todavía existen en cuanto a control prenatal.

Objective: identify the vaginal colonizing Candida species and VVC species, predisposing factors and susceptibility against fluconazole in pregnant women attending gynecological outpatient of a maternal clinic in Cartagena (Colombia).  Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a common infection that affects a large proportion of women of childbearing age. It is estimated that about 75% of healthy women have had at least one episode of VVC in her life. Vaginal colonization by Candida spp. can vary from 10 to 17% and this is increased by 35% during pregnancy. The epidemiological behavior of Candida in VVC tends to be variable and this will depend on the level of vaginal estrogens, conditions of immunosuppression or chronicity of the process. Materials and Methods: the laboratory study included the direct examination of vaginal swabs, by fresh and differential staining of smears and cultures. The isolated species were identified by phenotypic tests and by multiplex PCR and CLSI M27-A3 microdilution method was used to evaluate susceptibility to fluconazole. Results: the frequent clinical diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis, did not correspond with the laboratory diagnosis in which predominated the intermediate biota. The results showed Candida albicans as the most common isolated species, followed by Candida tropicalis and Candida krusei. Candida colonization occurred in 71.4% and 28.6% of the population was diagnosed with vaginal candidiasis. All isolates were susceptible to fluconazole. Conclusion: The most common factors for colonization were related to clothing and for vaginal candidiasis to the use of vaginal lubricants.

Pregnant adolescent females face nutritional challenges. The nutritional demands of a growing fetus, when added to the requirements for growing adolescent bodies, are risk factors for undernutrition. An adolescent expectant mother’s nutritional status therefore affects both the mother’s and the child’s future growth, development, and potential development of diseases later in life. In Colombia, the rate of female adolescent pregnancies is higher than neighboring countries and the global average. The most recent data suggest that approximately 21 % of all pregnant adolescent females in Colombia are underweight, 27 % suffer from anemia, 20 % suffer from vitamin D deficiency, and 19 % suffer from vitamin B12 deficiency. Contributing factors to these nutritional deficiencies during pregnancy may be the region in which the female lives, the female’s ethnicity, and the female’s socioeconomic and educational status. In rural parts of Colombia, limitations regarding access to prenatal care and food choices that include animal source proteins may also contribute to nutritional deficiencies. To help remedy this, recommendations include encouraging nutrient dense food sources with higher protein content, eating one additional meal per day, and taking a prenatal vitamin throughout the pregnancy. Making healthy eating choices can be difficult for adolescent females with limited resources and education; therefore, it is recommended that discussions about nutrition begin at the first prenatal visit for optimum benefits. These factors should be considered for the development of future health policies and interventions in Colombia and other low-income and middle-income countries where pregnant adolescent females may be experiencing similar nutritional deficiencies.