Relationship between histologic chorioamnionitis and genital tract cultures in pre term labour

Abstract

The objective was to determine the relationship of histological chorioamnionitis (HCA) with genital tract cultures in preterm birth. Among two hundred women recruited for the study, 100 were taken as cases with gestational age between ≥28 and <37 weeks and 100 women with gestational age >37 weeks were taken as controls. Vaginal swabs were taken for culture sensitivity and vaginal smears were made for performing whiff test and heat dry gram stained smear was examined for growth of microorganisms. Histopathologic examination of the placenta was done after delivery. 49 cases and 26 controls had evidence of histological chorioamnionitis. A significant difference was observed in relation to the presence of E. coli, presence of clue cells, positive whiff test and occurrence of bacterial vaginosis in subjects with and without histological chorioamnionitis. Thus, we conclude that the presence of histological chorioamnionitis is closely related to the presence of pathogenic microorganisms in the cervicovaginal region. IMPACT STATEMENT What is already known on the subject? Histologic chorioamnionitis has been regarded to reflect amniotic fluid infection and there are studies showing an association between histologic chorioamnionitis, amniotic fluid, and subchorionic plate cultures. Nevertheless, studies of the correlation of the cervical swab cultures with intrauterine infection in preterm birth remain inconclusive. What do the results of this study add? Histologic chorioamnionitis is closely related to the presence of pathogenic microorganisms in the cervicovaginal region. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? High vaginal swab cultures and gram staining of vaginal smear is useful in detecting antenatal patients who are at a higher risk for preterm labour. After detection, early intervention may be done to avoid preterm deliveries in these high-risk pregnancies.