Antenatal Infection and Unruptured Membranes

Abstract

The report, "Congenital Bacterial Pneumonia with Intact Fetal Membranes," by Dr. Monif1, draws attention to the widespread, but unwarranted view among clinicians that an intact amnion is insurance against transamniotic fetal infection. The twin assumptions that manifest physical integrity of the membranes protects the contained fetus from infection and that membranes discovered to be infected after rupture were not inflamed while intact, are fallacious. Both chorioamnionitis (inflammation, though not necessarily infection, of the membranes) and microbial contamination of the liquor amnii have been repeatedly observed without such high risk antecedents as prolonged rupture, prolonged labor, instrumentation, or vaginal examinations.