If a pregnant woman is a MRSA carrier, there is no research evidence that her pregnancy will be compromised. In general, MRSA screening is not done routinely during pregnancy. However, if a woman has been diagnosed previously with MRSA, and if she is having a planned C-section, has a high risk for complications, has a MRSA-positive household member, or has been hospitalized in the last three months, she may be screened for MRSA. Some clinicians will offer treatment to suppress the bacteria; other clinicians may not, depending on the mother’s circumstances. Pregnant women who get MRSA infections are treated with antibiotics; if they pass MRSA to their infant, the baby can also be treated. Fortunately, serious MRSA infections in infants are rare. Pregnant women with MRSA infections should be treated by specialists, usually a team consisting of an ob-gyn and infectious-disease consultant, since careful choices in antibiotics and close follow-up yield the best outcomes for the mother and baby.
