Diagnosis of congenital/perinatal infections by neonatologists: a national survey

Objectiveto describe the clinical approach used by neonatologists for diagnosis of congenital/perinatal infections (cpi); no such data currently exist.study designa national survey regarding the diagnosis of toxoplasma, syphilis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex virus (hsv) infection in neonates.resultwe received 553 (11%) responses. central nervous system calcification or hydrocephalus was the commonest trigger to pursue a cpi diagnosis (98%); maternal history was the least frequent (67%). four hundred twenty-two (76%) used general screening such as “torch titer screen” (57%) or total igg or igm (39%). further evaluation targeted known clinical sequelae; but cerebrospinal fluid testing was used in only 65% of those suspected of having hsv or syphilis. fifty-six percent chose a treponemal instead of a non-treponemal test for syphilis. multivariable analyses did not identify factors associated with the clinical diagnostic approach.conclusionwe observed clinically important deviations from cpi diagnostic test recommendations in a national cohort of neonatologists.