The association between genital tract infection and pretenn labor was studied on 30 women in spontaneous preterm labor [15 women with intact membranes (Group 1), and 15 women with rupture of membranes (Group II)]. 10 women submitted for elective cesarean section with intact membranes were selected as control group(Group III). Attemptsfor isolation of the genital aerobic & anaerobic bacteria, Mycoplasma hominis (M.hominis), Ureaplasma urealyticum (U.urealyticum), Chlamydia trachomatis (C.trachomatis) (with detection ofits antigen},fungi. and viruses were peiformed . Abnormal bacterial (aerobic & anaerobic) colonization was found in 40%, 53.3%, and 20% in groups 1. II. and III (respectively) with insignificant difference among them The prevalence ofdifferent aerobic and anaerobic bacteria among the groups 1. II. and III werefound to be statistically insignificant. M. hominis was found in 33.3%, 26.67 %, and 10% in Groups I, II, and III (respectively) with significant difference among them. U. urealyticum was isolated in 86.7%, 60% and 50% in
" groups I, II, and III (respectively) with significant difference among them.
C. trachomatis could be isolated in 200A;, and 26.7%, in groups I andII (respectively), while, C. trachomatis antigen was detected in 6.7%, 13.3% in groups I and II (respectively), while it was negative in group III (by both culture and antigen detection) with signifLCant difference among them. No viruses orfungi were isolated in the three groups. Conclusion: Our results support the premise that a proportion ofidiopathic preterm labor is due to abnormal genital microbial colonization. |
