title: Progress toward improved understanding of infection-related preterm birth.
abstract: Current strategies to prevent infection-related preterm birth and its associated neonatal morbidities have had limited success. Improved understanding of the pathogen-host interactions underlying altered colonization of the lower genital tract is necessary before significant progress can be made. The application of novel diagnostic techniques such as broad range PCR and proteomic analysis contribute to our knowledge of the diversity and abundance of microbial species invading the amniotic cavity as well as the resultant inflammatory response. Preterm infants delivered following intrauterine infection may respond differently to subsequent infectious challenges in the neonatal intensive care unit.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Columbia University Medical Center, 3959 Broadway, CHN 1201, New York, NY 10032, USA. tmr2103@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Tara M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Randis
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009017:Morbidity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors