Congenital Infection Referral Guidelines

If you have concerns that your patient may have been exposed to a virus that would cause a congenital infection or had a serious viral or bacterial infection during pregnancy, please consult the guidelines below to assess when to refer to the Congenital Infection Program.

Pregnant women who:

• Have a serious viral (seasonal influenza, COVID-19, etc.) or bacterial infection during pregnancy
• Have positive testing for congenital infections during pregnancy
• Have fetal U.S. findings of brain abnormalities in the baby that can be due to a congenital infection (i.e., microcephaly, ventriculomegaly, calcifications, abnormal cortex)

Infants who:

• Have a concern for a congenital infection
• Have known maternal infection during pregnancy
• Have maternal testing during pregnancy that is positive or inconclusive for a congenital infection

Providers may consider initiating referral to the Congenital Infection Program:

• If the patient may have been exposed to a virus that would cause a congenital infection.
• If the patient has had a serious viral or bacterial infection during pregnancy.

• If you, your pregnant patients or parents of your newborn patients have questions or concerns about a possible virus exposure, please call 202-476-7409.
• If you have a question about referral criteria, please email us.

Specialists from the Fetal Medicine Institute and the Division of Infectious Disease lead a multidisciplinary team that will provide your patient with comprehensive assessments and expert personalized recommendations based on the most recent findings and guidelines.

Once your patient is referred into the program, the multidisciplinary team will provide:

• Streamlined testing
• Advanced fetal and newborn neuroimaging
• Comprehensive consultation
• Coordinated multidisciplinary diagnosis and management tailored to each individual