Q fever in pregnancy

We describe a case of acute symptomatic infection with Coxiella burnetii acquired between the 16th and 28th week of pregnancy. Oral ciprofloxacin therapy was started on diagnosis, at the 28th week of pregnancy, but symptoms were unabated after 3 weeks treatment, suggesting persisting infection of the products of conception. Caesarean section was therefore performed at 32 weeks gestation when a healthy infant was delivered, and subsequent investigations showed no evidence of transplacental spread of infection. Infection control measures were applied at the time of delivery to minimize the risk of infection to obstetricians and midwives from potentially infectious products of conception.