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

• DOI: 10.1007/s10096-008-0612-5
• Publication Date: 2008-08-20T09:07:06Z
• Authors: P. Valentini; M. L. Annunziata; D. F. Angelone; L. Masini; M. De Santis; A. Testa; R. L. Grillo; D. Speziale; O. Ranno
• Keywords: Spiramycin; Toxoplasmosis; Folinic acid; Medical microbiology

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.