The association of Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and group B streptococci with preterm rupture of the membranes and pregnancy outcome.
There is conflicting evidence regarding a possible causal role for Chlamydia trachomatis in the development of preterm premature rupture of the membranes. We investigated the relative prevalence of endocervical infection with C. trachomatis and group B streptococci in patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes compared with a control group taken from the same obstetric population. C. trachomatis was isolated from 23/52 (44%) patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes versus 13/84 (15%) women in the control group (p less than 0.001). This association was independent of infection with group B streptococci or Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Group B streptococci were isolated from 16% of the patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes versus 4% of the control population (p less than 0.05). The risk of preterm premature rupture of membranes associated with group B streptococcal infection was independent of infection with C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae. Endocervical infection with C. trachomatis did not significantly affect early maternal complication rates after delivery.
D000328:Adult; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000150:complications*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000209:etiology*; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000150:complications*; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002577:Uterine Cervical Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology