Infections Infertility and Assisted Reproduction

ART treatment is vulnerable to the hazard of potential infection from many different sources: patients, samples, staff
and the environment. Culture of gametes and embryos in vitro provides multiple targets for transmission of potential
infection, including the developing embryo, neighbouring gametes and embryos, the couple undergoing treatment and other
couples being treated during the same period. This unique situation, with multifaceted opportunities for microbial
growth and transmission, makes infection and contamination control absolutely crucial in the practice of assisted
reproduction, and in the laboratory in particular. Originally published in 2004, this practical book provides a basic
overview of microbiology in the context of ART, providing a guide to infections in reproductive medicine. The relevant
facets of the complex and vast field of microbiology are condensed and focused, highlighting information that is
crucial for safe practice in both clinical and laboratory aspects of ART.


Features
?Spans the important interface between the fields of reproductive medicine and microbiology
?Deals in depth with the perils and risks of infection during ART, and how best to eliminate and avoid these
?Practical, well illustrated and with well documented guidance on protocols and procedures


Table of Contents
Preface
Acknowledgements
Part I. Overview of Microbiology: 1. Introduction
2. Bacteriology
3. Mycology: moulds and yeasts
4. Virology
5. Prions
6. Parasitology
Part II. Infections in Reproductive Medicine: 7. Genital ulcer disease
8. Vaginitis syndromes
9. Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infections
10. Urethritis and cervicitis syndromes
11. Pathology of the upper genitourinary tract
12. Cytomegalovirus and blood-borne viruses
Part III. Infection and the Assisted Reproductive Laboratory: 13. Infection and contamination control in the ART
laboratory
14. Handling of infectious agents in the ART laboratory
15. Prevention: patient screening and the use of donor gametes
Index.