TORCH infections

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The TORCH infections, AKA TORCHES, are a group of perinatal infections that conveniently can be remembered with the mnemonic TORCH[1] or TORCHES.

CMV placentitis. H&E stain.

Notes:

  • CMV is the most common of the group.[2]
  • The last three (RCH) are viruses.
  • Toxoplasmosis is a parasite.

Alternate mnemonic

  • Toxoplasmosis.
  • Others - syphilis, tuberculosis, listeriosis.
  • Rubella.
  • Cytomegalovirus.
  • HErpes simplex virus.
  • Syphilis.

Microscopic

See acute villitis.

See also

References

  1. Greenough A (May 1994). "The TORCH screen and intrauterine infections". Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed. 70 (3): F163–5. PMC 1061033. PMID 8198407. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1061033/?tool=pubmed.
  2. Abdel-Fattah, SA.; Bhat, A.; Illanes, S.; Bartha, JL.; Carrington, D. (Nov 2005). "TORCH test for fetal medicine indications: only CMV is necessary in the United Kingdom.". Prenat Diagn 25 (11): 1028-31. doi:10.1002/pd.1242. PMID 16231309.