This is the third edition of the guideline originally published in 1997 and reviewed in 2001 under the same title.
Varicella, the primary infection with herpes varicella zoster virus (VZV), in pregnancy may cause maternal mortality or serious morbidity. It may also cause fetal varicella syndrome (FVS), previously known as congenital varicella syndrome and varicella infection of the newborn, which includes syndromes previously known as congenital varicella and neonatal varicella. The aim of this guideline is to assess the evidence regarding the maternal and fetal risks of VZV infection in pregnancy and to assess whether or not these complications can be prevented or modified beneficially by the administration of varicella zoster immune globulin (VZIG) or by treatment of infected individuals with aciclovir. This information should guide the prudent use of VZIG, which is manufactured from the plasma of human blood donors and, hence, is a limited and expensive resource. The guideline will also address the role of varicella vaccination in healthcare workers and in susceptible women of reproductive age.
This guideline can be downloaded as a pdf by clicking the link below.
