High vaginal swab cultures in normal and preterm labor

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that ascending intrauterine infection is one of the major causes of preterm birth and fetal infection. Which microorganism is associated with preterm labor is still a matter of conflicting reports. Reports about the prediction of intrauterine and fetal infection from lower genital tract cultures are also not consistent. The aim of this study is to find out whether any specific microorganism is associated with preterm birth and whether high vaginal swab (H.V.S) cultures can be used to predict fetal infection. The study took place at Abha Maternity Hospital between September 1999 and June 2000 after approval by the hospital ethics committee. High vaginal swabs were taken from 132 women in preterm labor or preterm premature rupture of the membranes (24–36 weeks gestation) and from a control of 136 women in term labor (=37 weeks). The swabs were cultured aerobically and anaerobically and bacteria identified using conventional methods. After delivery newborns who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit were also bacteriologically investigated by blood culture and surface bacteriology. (excerpt)