The evolution of technologies in microbiology is the key to creating new opportunities for surveillance and prevention of infections in obstetrics

Abstract

The main direction of improving the quality of medical care for pregnant women, mothers and newborns is to improve the diagnosis and prevention of inflammatory infections, including healthcare-associated infections (HAI). A huge number of types of causative agents of opportunistic infections in women and newborns significantly complicates the etiological diagnosis and timely, adequate treatment at all stages of medical care. Recently, we have seen the emergence and spread of multi-resistant strains: bacteria from the ESKAPE-pathogens group (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumanii, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Enterobacter cloacae); as well as coagulase-negative staphylococci and yeasts, which easily realize their pathogenic potential for immunocompromised patients. The changed epidemiological situation requires the creation and functioning of a local system of surveillance of opportunistic infections in obstetrics and neonatology, primarily for the HAI, which will quickly monitor changes occurring in the etiological, intraspecific, strain structure of pathogens and respond to them in a timely manner. The evolution of technologies in microbiology allows introducing new approaches to the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of infections. Active use of modern methods of etiological diagnostics, development and application of innovative antimicrobial drugs in combination with coordinated work of physicians, microbiologists, clinical pharmacologists, epidemiologists and specialists in the field of molecular biology and bioinformatics is the key to the formation of new opportunities for epidemiological surveillance and prevention of infections in childbirth.