Course Summary

All pregnant women should be assessed for sexually transmitted disease to diagnose infection and begin proper treatment as early as possible to protect maternal and fetal health. Sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis can be passed from the mother to infant during pregnancy and during delivery. An untreated sexually transmitted infection can lead to several adverse pregnancy outcomes and health outcomes in newborns. If treated early, the risk of fetal harm from a sexually transmitted infection is reduced and the prognosis is generally good. Treatment of a confirmed sexually transmitted disease should begin early, and be followed up closely during the peripartum stage and after birth to determine the development of maternal, fetal and neonatal complications. Treatments for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis are discussed.

Course Format

Homestudy

Course Syllabus

  • I.      Introduction
  • II.      Epidemiology
    • 1.       Chlamydia
    • 2.       Gonorrhea
    • 3.       Syphilis
  • III.       Transmission of Sexually Transmitted Infections
    • 1.        Chlamydia
    • 2.        Gonorrhea
    • 3.        Syphilis
  •  IV.      Clinical Presentation: Pregnancy and the Neonate
    • 1.        Chlamydia
    • 2.        Gonorrhea
    • 3.        Syphilis
  •  V.      Screening for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Syphilis
    • 1.        Chlamydia
    • 2.        Gonorrhea
    • 3.        Syphilis
  • VI.      Treatment of Sexually Transmitted Infections
    • 1.        Chlamydia
    • 2.        Gonorrhea
    • 3.        Syphilis
  • VII.     Case Study: Latent Syphilis During Pregnancy
  • VIII.    Summary

Author

Dana Bartlett, RN, BSN, MSN, MA, CSPI

Dana Bartlett is a professional nurse and author. His clinical experience includes 16 years of ICU and ER experience and over 27 years as a poison control center information specialist. Dana has published numerous CE and journal articles, written NCLEX material, textbook chapters, and more than 100 online CE articles, and done editing and reviewing for publishers such as Elsevier, Lippincott, and Thieme. He has written widely on the subject of toxicology and was a contributing editor, toxicology section, for Critical Care Nurse journal. He is currently employed at the Connecticut Poison Control Center. He lives in Wappingers Falls, NY.