False-Positive Human Immunodeficiency Virus Screening Results in Pregnancy During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic.

False-positive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) test results are rare but have been documented in the setting of certain underlying conditions such as Epstein-Barr virus, metastatic cancer, and certain autoimmune conditions. A retrospective cohort study in a large hospital system was conducted to compare the occurrence of false-positive HIV fourth-generation test results before and after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in a population of pregnant patients (N=44,187; 22,073 pre-COVID and 22,114 during COVID). The COVID cohort had a significantly higher frequency of false-positive HIV test results compared with the pre-COVID cohort (0.381 vs 0.676, P =.002). Within the COVID cohort, 25% of patients had a positive polymerase chain reaction test result for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) preceding their false-positive HIV test results. When this subgroup was excluded, the difference in frequency of false-positive HIV test results between the cohorts was no longer significant (0.381 vs 0.507, P =.348). Our findings suggest that SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity was associated with an increased frequency of false-positive HIV test results in the pregnant population.

Five-Year Remission of Hidradenitis Suppurativa Following the Removal of a Levonorgestrel Intrauterine Device and Disease Overview for Obstetrics and Gynecology Providers.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that is characterized by recurrent, painful nodules, sinus tract formation, and scarring. We report the case of a 20-year-old female with the abrupt onset of Hurley stage I HS following the implantation of a levonorgestrel intrauterine device (IUD) and complete remission of disease following the removal of the device one year later. To our knowledge, this is the first documented case of long-term remission of HS after the removal of levonorgestrel IUD. We also provide a concise overview of HS and suggested primary interventions for obstetrics and gynecology providers.

Adjustable Algorithmic Tool for Assessing the Effectiveness of Maternal Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccination on Infant Mortality in Developing Countries.

Acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) due to RSV is a common cause of global infant mortality, with most cases occurring in developing countries. Using data aggregated from priority countries as designated by the United States Agency for International Development's (USAID) Maternal Child Health and Nutrition (MCHN) program, we created an adjustable algorithmic tool for visualizing the effectiveness of candidate maternal RSV vaccination on infant mortality. Country-specific estimates for disease burden and case fatality rates were computed based on established data. Country-specific RSV-ALRI incidence rates for infants 0-5 months were scaled based on the reported incidence rates for children 0-59 months. Using in-hospital mortality rates and predetermined "inflation factor," we estimated the mortality of infants aged 0-5 months. Given implementation of a candidate maternal vaccination program, estimated reduction in infant RSV-ALRI incidence and mortality rates were calculated. User input is used to determine the coverage of the program and the efficacy of the vaccine. Using the generated algorithm, the overall reduction in infant mortality varied considerably depending on vaccine efficacy and distribution. Given a potential efficacy of 70% and a maternal distribution rate of 50% in every USAID MCHN priority country, annual RSV-ALRI-related infant mortality is estimated to be reduced by 14,862 cases. The absolute country-specific reduction is dependent on the number of live births; countries with the highest birth rates had the greatest impact on annual mortality reduction. The adjustable algorithm provides a standardized analytical tool in the evaluation of candidate maternal RSV vaccines. Ultimately, it can be used to guide public health initiatives, research funding, and policy implementation concerning the effectiveness of potential maternal RSV vaccination on reducing infant mortality.