title: [Cervical bacterial colonization in women with preterm labor or premature rupture of membranes].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to study cervical colonization in women with preterm labor or premature rupture of membranes.
  
  
  METHODS
  two hundred and twelve pregnant women with preterm labor or premature rupture of membranes were studied. Two cervical samples from each woman were collected and bacterioscopy and culture were performed. Association of cervical microorganisms and urinary tract infection, chorioamnionitis, fetal stress, antibiotic use, prematurity, neonatal infection, and neonatal death were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the prevalence of endocervical colonization was 14.2% (CI95%=9.5-18.9%), with similar results in preterm labor or premature rupture of membranes. Group B streptococcus was the most prevalent organism (9.4%). Other organisms isolated were Candida sp, Streptococcus sp, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli and Enterococcus sp. The most common findings of bacterioscopy were a reduced number of lactobacilli and a great number of leukocytes. Endocervical colonization was associated with a higher occurrence of urinary tract infection (23.8 versus 5.4%; p<0.01), early-onset neonatal infection (25.0 versus 7.3%; p<0.01) and neonatal mortality (two cases in colonized women; p<0.02) when compared with a negative culture of endocervical mucus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  this study showed high prevalence of endocervical colonization despite the use of a nonselective culture media. The main microorganism isolated was group B streptococcus, but other organisms were present in one third of the studied population. More studies are needed to evaluate the influence of endocervical colonization on obstetrical outcome and on neonatal infection and mortality.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Tocoginecologia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Giuliane Jesus
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Lajos
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Passini Junior
authors.forename: Marcelo Luís
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.forename: Eliana
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Amaral
authors.forename: Belmiro Gonçalves
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Helaine
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Milanez
authors.forename: Mary Angela
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Parpinelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000382:microbiology*; D011247:Pregnancy