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Prematurity is the leading cause of perinatal mortality and morbidity worldwide. Recently many investigators have noted the presence of asymptomatic infection particularly. Associated with preterm labor. Amniotic fluid was obtained by transabdominal amniocentesis from 50 pregnant women with preterm labor and intact membranes who have been admitted to Sanggye Paik Hospital from Jan. 1, 1992, to Aug. 31, 1992. Their gestational ages ranged from 20 to 36 weeks. The prevalence of a positive amniotic fluid culture was 12%(6/50), and 23.8%(5/21) of patients having delivered preterm neonates had positive amniotic fluid cultures. The isolated organism were Staphylococcus aureus, Bacteroides, E. coli, Candida albicans, and Fusobacterium. Women with positive amniotic fluid cultures had lower gestational ages and more advanced cervical dilatation on admission than women with negative cultures. Preterm infants born to mothers with positive amniotic fluid cultures had a higher incidence of neonatal complications such as respoiratory distress syndrome and infection than preterm infants born with negative amniotic fluid cultures. Thie study reveals that an intraamniotic infection, which is often subclinical in nature, is a major etiologic factor for preterm delivery.
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