Causes and Consequences of Chorioamnionitis

Abstract

Acute inflammations of the fetal membranes (chorioamnionitis) and umbilical cord (funisitis) often have no adverse effects on the mother or fetus, but in some cases they are associated with congenital pneumonia, early onset of labor and clinical evidence of maternal infection. Pathogenic bacteria are easily cultured from many patients, but in others the chorioamnionitis has appeared to be sterile, leading to speculation that meconium or other noninfectious agents might be responsible for the inflammation. Recent studies have generated new evidence that bacteria are usually responsible for the disorder. Lauweryns has found that a number of bacteria produce the lesions whereas . . .