Prepartal infection of the placenta with Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
Placentas from 191 consecutive deliveries were cultured for Neisseria gonorrhoeae and other bacteria before being examined histologically. N gonorrhoeae was seen on direct microscopical examination and cultured from two placentas, one of which had chorioamnionitis and the other had a granulocytic invasion of the membranes. In both patients, rupture of the membranes had occurred two hours or less before delivery, and thus after infection. A third patient was also found to have light gonococcal infection of the placenta. Six infections with group B streptococci were identified, but only one correlated with chorioamnionitis. Chorioamnionitis was observed in 16 (8.4%) and granulocytic infiltration of the membranes in 18 (9.4%) of the deliveries.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010920:Placenta / Q000382:microbiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification