THE INVESTIGATION OF TOXOPLASMA INFECTION ASSOCIATED WITH PREGNANCY

An audit was undertaken to determine case compliance with prenatal tes ting and investigation of infants for toxoplasma infection. Subsequent ly the effect of enhanced reference unit intervention was studied. The proportion of cases of toxoplasma infection associated with pregnancy completing an investigation programme was calculated. The effect of c ontinued and short-term additional intervention was assessed and reaso ns for failure to comply were sought. The status of the child was esta blished in 30% of cases when acute maternal toxoplasma infection was d etected. Continuous reference unit intervention significantly improved case compliance to 45% over a 3-year period, but the effect was lost when the additional measures were withdrawn. Failure to complete the i nvestigation procedure was associated with loss of patient-clinician c ontact and clinician/laboratory error. Enhanced intervention did not r esult in a significant improvement in compliance with the investigatio n programme for babies with clinical abnormality. The benefits of test ing for toxoplasma infection associated with pregnancy are limited by failure to complete necessary investigations.