STUDY OF COMPLICATIONS IN PRETERM DELIVERIES AFTER PROLONGED PREMATURE RUPTURE OF MEMBRANES

Abstract

The risk of infection for mother and baby after spontaneous rupture of the membranes was evaluated in a prospective study of 24 patients with ruptured membranes before the 36th wk of pregnancy. The mean length of pregnancy after rupture was 10 days and 2 h. Only patients harboring Group B streptococci of Escherichia coli in the urogenital tract were treated with antibiotics (during delivery). With the exception of 1 woman, all patients harbored .gtoreq. 1 pathogen in the urogenital tract. Four mothers were infected but all recovered. Of 26 infants, one died from infection. The study did not confirm any association between prolonged rupture of the membranes and the frequency of idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome, nor did it contradict attempts to actively prolong pregnancy after rupture of the membranes.