Gonorrhoea in pregnancy

Abstract

SummaryThe role of gonorrhoea and other sexually transmitted diseases as risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcome defined as low birth weight, stillbirth and postpartum endometritis, was examined in a case control study in Nairobi, Kenya. Maternal gonococcal infection was associated with very low birth weight babies (< 1500 g; 17–1 versus 5–8 per cent; P < 0–01; odds ratio 3–2) and with postpartum endometritis (18–2 versus 5–6 per cent; P = < 0–001; odds ratio 41). The isolation rate of Neisseria gonorrhoeae increased with declining birth weight (p < 0–05).In addition, an association was found between maternal gonococcal infection and cervical mucopus postpartum (15–5 versus 3–9 per cent; P = < 0–001; odds ratio 4–6). The sensitivity of a yellow cervical swab was 62 per cent and the specificity 73 per cent. In settings where laboratory facilities are not available, empirical treatment may be implemented based on the finding of cervical mucopus.