Francis Simmonds upgrading seminar - Tuesday 29th September - 13:00 BST

Francis Simmonds will be presenting at his upgrading seminar on Tuesday the 29th of September, 13:00 BST on 'Neonatal and early infant sequalae of maternal bacterial sexually transmitted infections in Zimbabwe: Evidence from two prospective infant cohorts'

Zoom details below:

Meeting ID: 878 9542 3426

Password: 966286

Abstract

Maternal bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ng), and Treponema pallidum (Tp), may be vertically transmitted, resulting in neonatal infection and subsequent infant morbidity. Despite the high burden of bacterial STIs during pregnancy in Zimbabwe, vertical transmission, associated disease burden and early infant sequelae remain poorly characterised.

This PhD investigates the neonatal and early infant sequelae of maternal bacterial STIs through two prospective infant cohorts nested within the PROMISE trial in Harare, Zimbabwe. The first cohort follows infants from birth to identify neonatal conjunctivitis (NC) during the first 6 weeks of life. Ocular swabs collected from all infants at birth and from infants who develop NC are tested for Ct, Ng and other pathogens to determine neonatal carriage and the aetiology of NC. Infants with NC and comparison infants who remain free of NC during the first 6 weeks are evaluated for corneal scarring at 6 months. The second cohort follows syphilis-exposed infants from birth to 12 months to investigate the incidence of congenital syphilis through nasal swab PCR testing at birth, infant clinical assessment and maternal-infant serological testing. At 12 months, infant growth will also be assessed and compared with that of syphilis-unexposed infants matched by maternal HIV status.

By integrating maternal antenatal data, molecular and serological testing, and longitudinal infant follow-up, this PhD will characterise vertical transmission, neonatal disease and early infant sequelae of maternal bacterial STIs. Findings will inform antenatal screening and treatment and the monitoring of exposed infants.