(Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2017;216(4):352–363) Even with an available cure, syphilis remains a growing, global health concern for women during pregnancy. Between 2012 and 2014 there was a 38% increase in the rate of congenital syphilis. Syphilis presents a clear danger as stillbirths occur in about 25% of pregnancies along with other adverse outcomes. While syphilis in pregnant women in several counties has been eliminated through a World Health Organization initiative, rates in the United States have increased. African American women have a 10 times higher rate of congenital infection than white women. Syphilis infection rates have increased in all geographical areas. Lack of prenatal care, lack of diagnostic screening, and lack of treatment are the primary issues. Syphilis has significant effects on the infants born to infected mothers. More than 50% of infants may be infected and adverse outcomes are seen in as many as 75% of untreated pregnancies.

Intrauterine infection with non- albicans Candida species is rare but can be catastrophic to the fetus. A subset of intrauterine infections with non- albicans Candida species has occurred in women who have undergone in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). We report a case of a 33-year-old healthy woman, pregnant with triplets by in vitro fertilization, who experienced preterm premature rupture of membranes of fetus A at 16 weeks' gestation and subsequently developed oligohydramnios in all 3 fetuses. Following elective pregnancy termination, microscopic examination and molecular analysis demonstrated Candida lusitaniae chorioamnionitis and pneumonia in all 3 fetuses associated with granulomatous inflammation. Our case is only the 2nd report of C. lusitaniae chorioamnionitis and should raise awareness that C. lusitaniae intrauterine infection is associated with IVF-ET. We also show here that C. lusitaniae can cause granulomatous intraplacental inflammation and intrauterine pneumonia.

(Am J Obstet Gynecol 2015;213(5):650–652) This article is a summary of clinically relevant information on extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs), which are plasmid transferable enzymes that evolve rapidly to provide antibiotic resistance to different bacterial species. Although ESBL infection is common during pregnancy, these organisms present special challenges for identification in the laboratory, antibiotic selection and administration, and follow-up.