title: Is a foetus developing in a sterile environment?
abstract: Novel findings in microbiology question the long-standing paradigm that a healthy pregnancy implies a sterile uterus. It now seems that the placenta is frequently colonized with bacteria, and a placental microbiome has been identified. Recent literature findings are summarized here, and an attempt is made to separate pathological bacterial presence from a naturally occurring microbiome.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Microbiology and Consultants, Zotzenheim, Germany.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Wassenaar
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Panigrahi
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D005333:Fetus / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D064307:Microbiota; D010920:Placenta / Q000382:microbiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000382:microbiology; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000209:etiology
keywords: amniotic fluid; breast milk; neonatal sepsis; newborn colonization; placenta microbiome; placental microbiome; preterm birth