Role of spiramycin/cotrimoxazole association in the mother-to-child transmission of toxoplasmosis infection in pregnancy

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2009 Mar;28(3):297-300. doi: 10.1007/s10096-008-0612-5. Epub 2008 Aug 21.

Abstract

The purpose of this report is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of spiramycin/cotrimoxazole in the mother-to-child transmission of Toxoplasma gondii infection. We retrospectively analysed 76 infants born to mothers with toxoplasmosis during pregnancy and estimated the risk of mother-to-child transmission considering the gestational age at the time of infection. Seventy-six mothers were given spiramycin, cotrimoxazole and folinic acid; only two babies (2.6%) were infected by Toxoplasma and none of them showed signs or symptoms of congenital infection or interference of sulphamid on tetrahydrofolate reductase (THFR) either at birth or during follow-up. Treatment did not need to be stopped in any mother because of adverse drug effects. Our results seem to encourage the use of spiramycin/cotrimoxazole in women with toxoplasmosis during pregnancy.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Infective Agents / adverse effects
  • Anti-Infective Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / prevention & control*
  • Leucovorin / adverse effects
  • Leucovorin / therapeutic use
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / prevention & control*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Spiramycin / adverse effects
  • Spiramycin / therapeutic use*
  • Toxoplasma / drug effects
  • Toxoplasmosis / drug therapy*
  • Toxoplasmosis / transmission*
  • Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / adverse effects
  • Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Spiramycin
  • Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination
  • Leucovorin