Streptococcus viridans infections in midgestation.
During a 14-year period Streptococcus viridans was isolated at autopsy from 18 neonates or stillborn fetuses delivered in midgestation (18-28 weeks) at Women & Infants' Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island. Evidence of swallowed and/or aspirated, infected amniotic fluid by the fetus was found in 16 of 18 cases along with chorioamnionitis and funisitis. Of the 18 cases, maternal infection was documented in 6 cases; delivery was preceded by spontaneous rupture of membranes in 9 cases and vaginal bleeding in 7 cases. Poor maternal obstetric history was indicated by only 12 living children from 42 total pregnancies in the 12 multigravidas in the study. It is concluded that S. viridans may have a significant role in the pathogenesis of second trimester amniotic fluid infections with abortions and fetal and neonatal sepsis.
Ariel
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Department of Pathology, Brown University Program in Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island.
Singer
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DB
D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000209:etiology; D005333:Fetus / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000196:embryology / Q000382:microbiology; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality