The TORCH complex is a group of pathogens that can cause mild or asymptomatic infections in pregnant mothers, but can cause serious complications in the developing fetus, including stillbirth, lifelong disabilities, and birth defects. Researchers at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi recently assessed long-term trends in TORCH infections in regions where reliable data is lacking. TORCH includes pathogens that cause toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus, and other infections.
Dr Sudhahar Tamizan, a doctor at AIIMS who led the study, said that despite improved vaccination coverage, these infections remained a risk in the region. Microbiologist Sunita Meena, MD, was the study’s senior author. Dr. Tamizan presented his research results at ASM Microbe 2026 in Washington, DC.
“We hope this study will contribute to more informed public health policy and better prevention of congenital infections in India and other resource-limited settings,” Tamizan said.
Our findings support the importance of continued surveillance, targeted public health education, and evidence-based screening approaches tailored to local epidemiological patterns. By studying these TORCH microorganisms together, researchers can gain a broader view of infection risk and exposure patterns, which can inform prevention strategies, Professor Tamisan said.
Sudhahar Tamizhan, Physician, AIIMS
He and colleagues, including Meena and microbiologist Rojaleen Das, MD, analyzed test records of individuals tested for the TORCH pathogen between 2019 and 2025 at a tertiary care teaching hospital in northern India. They evaluated patterns of antibodies associated with exposure or immunity to the pathogen.
They found a clear epidemiological pattern. Exposure to CMV remained constant throughout the study period, indicating that the virus circulates widely in the community. The high prevalence highlights the need to raise awareness of this infection, which often receives less attention than other TORCH pathogens, the authors noted.
The researchers also found that the patients’ immunity to rubella was consistently high. He added that rubella is preventable with a vaccine and data suggest that vaccination efforts in the region are having a positive impact. However, a significant minority of patients remain susceptible to not only rubella but also toxoplasmosis, which is preventable through safe food preparation, hand washing, and careful handling of cat litter.
This finding suggests that TORCH pathogens may require different prevention strategies. “A ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to TORCH testing is not always the most effective strategy,” Tamizhan said. While maintaining high vaccination coverage remains important for rubella prevention, public health education on food hygiene, environmental exposures, and prenatal care may help reduce the risk of toxoplasmosis and other congenital infections.
The research team is now planning follow-up studies to investigate age-specific and pregnancy-related risk factors, with a particular focus on increasing awareness and early detection of CMV and other congenital infections.
Tamizan cautioned that the new findings represent observations from a single-center, retrospective study. Larger multicenter studies are needed to better understand regional differences and evolving trends in congenital infection risk across India.
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