Amphan Chalermchockchareonkit MD*, Sukhumarn Phoethong MD*, Pornpimol Ruangvutilert MD, PhD*, Manopchai Thamkhantho MD, FRCOG*
Affiliation : * Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Background : Cultures of genitourinary tract microorganisms have been included in routine evaluation for all pregnant
women who present with presumptive preterm labor. However, some studies found that this assessment is costly and adds
little value.
Objective : To determine the proportion of pregnant women with presumptive preterm labor who had positive culture of
genitourinary tract microorganisms and to determine the relationship of positive genitourinary infection and pregnancy
outcomes.
Material and Method: This retrospective cohort study was performed at Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty
of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University. Medical records of pregnant women with presumptive preterm labor who
were admitted in non-private labor room between January 2003 and December 2008 were reviewed. Characteristics, results
of vaginal swab culture and urine culture, and clinical outcomes were analyzed and reported.
Results : The prevalence of positive culture of genitourinary tract microorganisms in presumptive preterm labor-women
(total n = 704) was 24.3% (95% CI = 21.3-27.6), 22.1% (95% CI = 19.1-25.4) of vaginal swab culture and 5.3% (95% CI
= 3.8-7.2) of urine culture. However, only 9.8% were pathologic organisms. There were no statistically significant differences
in characteristics and rate of preterm labor between women with a positive and a negative culture. Moreover, there were
no statistically significant differences in characteristics and preterm birth outcomes between women in both groups.
Conclusion : There were no clinical significances of positivity of pathologic bacteria from genitourinary tract as a predictor
of preterm delivery and its outcomes. Although the prevalence is quite high, the value of these screenings is still questionable.
Keywords : Presumptive preterm labor, Vaginal swab culture, Urine culture
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