Microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity in midtrimester pregnancies using molecular microbiology

Abstract

Objective The objective of the study was to determine the frequency of microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity in the midtrimester of pregnancy in patients undergoing amniocentesis for clinical indications. Study Design This was a prospective investigation of the amniotic fluid of 344 asymptomatic women recruited in midpregnancy for the presence of microbial DNA. Amniotic samples obtained at the time of amniocentesis for genetic testing on women between 15 and 22 weeks of gestation were tested specifically for the presence of Ureaplasma urealyticum, Ureaplasma parvum, Mycoplasma hominis, and Mycoplasma genitalium as well as for other bacteria and fungi using broad-range polymerase chain re..