01971nas a2200169   4500000000100000008004100001260004600042653002700088653002400115653002800139100001500167700001800182245003000200490002700230520153000257022001401787       2021                            d  bOvid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)10aMicrobiology (medical)10aInfectious Diseases10aCongenital transmission1 aEdwards MS1 aMontgomery SP00aCongenital Chagas disease0 vPublish Ahead of Print3 aPurpose of review<br>
Lack of recognition of congenital Chagas disease in infants of mothers from endemic regions who are living in countries nonendemic for Trypanosoma cruzi infection suggests a high rate of underdiagnosis. Pregnancy is the optimal access point for identifying Chagas disease in at-risk mothers and their infants. In this review, we update progress toward implementation of pregnancy-based screening for congenital Chagas disease in nonendemic settings.<br>

<br>Recent findings <br>
International organizations have updated recommendations for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of congenital Chagas disease. Reports of successful implementation of pregnancy-based screening at some centers provide a model for optimizing diagnosis of congenital Chagas disease. Screening family members of index patients may identify additional T. cruzi-infected persons. Promising tests to augment current diagnostic modalities for maternal and congenital Chagas disease are in development. Universal or risk-based screening would be cost-effective. More healthcare providers are now aware that treatment of congenital Chagas disease is curative and are promoting efforts to make pregnancy-based screening for congenital Chagas disease a standard of care.<br>

<br>Summary <br>
Ongoing efforts to implement routine pregnancy-based screening for congenital Chagas disease in nonendemic regions will mutually benefit infants, their mothers and family members and can prevent potentially fatal Chagas cardiomyopathy.  a0951-7375