Background: We conducted a cross-sectional study of pregnant women with acute respiratory illness during delivery hospitalizations during influenza season to describe clinical testing for respiratory viruses and infection prevention practices.
Methods: Women had nasal swabs tested for influenza and other respiratory viruses. Among 91 enrolled women, 22 (24%) had clinical testing for influenza.
Results: Based on clinical and study testing combined, 41 of 91 (45%) women had samples positive for respiratory viruses. The most common virus was influenza (17 of 91, 19%); 53% (9 of 17) of influenza virus infections were identified through study testing alone. Only 16% of women were on droplet precautions.
Conclusions: Peripartum respiratory infections may be underrecognized.
Keywords: peripartum; pregnant women; respiratory viruses.
Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America 2021.