title: Infection and preterm birth.
abstract: Preterm birth (PTB) remains a primary cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this article is to outline the association between infection and PTB. We performed a search of the PubMed database for relevant scientific work published in English from 1995 to July 2015. Whereas there is substantial evidence regarding infection as a strong risk factor for preterm birth, the role of specific bacterial and viral infections is not totally conclusive. Newer high-dimensional biological technologies such as microbiomics and metabolomics offer hope to identify the causative pathogens. In addition, strategies have been developed to reduce PTB.
authors.affiliation: UAB Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA. Electronic address: hnadeau@uabmc.edu.
authors.forename: Hugh C G
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Nadeau
authors.affiliation: UAB Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Akila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Subramaniam
authors.affiliation: UAB Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: William W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Andrews
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Metabolome; Microbiome; Premature birth; Reproductive tract infections; Sexually transmitted diseases; Vaginosis