RN Nursing · Prenatal Care · Practice question
Which of the following screening tests is routinely recommended during pregnancy?
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Tuberculosis.
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Herpes simplex virus (HSV).
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Toxoplasmosis.
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✓
Syphilis.
Answer & explanation
Correct: Syphilis.
Syphilis screening using serologic testing such as the rapid plasma reagin (RPR) or the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test is universally recommended for all pregnant women at their first prenatal visit, and again in the third trimester for high-risk populations. This is mandated in most jurisdictions because untreated syphilis during pregnancy can cause congenital syphilis, which leads to stillbirth, preterm birth, neonatal death, and significant infant morbidity. Early detection and treatment with penicillin effectively prevents vertical transmission. Tuberculosis screening via tuberculin skin test or interferon-gamma release assay is recommended only for women with risk factors, not universally for all pregnant patients. Herpes simplex virus (HSV) serologic screening is not routinely recommended in prenatal care; instead, clinicians assess for active lesions at the time of delivery to guide decisions about cesarean birth. Toxoplasmosis screening is not a routine recommendation in the United States, though it is performed in some European countries with higher prevalence. Among the options provided, syphilis is the only infection for which universal serologic screening is a standard, guideline-supported component of routine prenatal care for all pregnant patients.
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