Microbiological studies during the perinatal period. An attempt to correlate selected bacterial and viral infections with intra-uterine deaths and preterm labour

Abstract

An investigation of the genital, amniotic fluid, placental and neonatal microflora in a population with a high prevalence of amniotic fluid infections and perinatal deaths is reported. Women presenting with preterm labour and intra-uterine death were investigated for the presence in vaginal secretions of a selected variety of pathogenic organisms, and the findings in these patients were compared with those in three groups of controls who presented with normal labour at term or late delivery or who required elective caesarean section as a result of cephalopelvic disproportion. Indirect evidence of infection was also sought by assaying cord blood for immunoglobulin levels and by testing for sp..