STUDY OF VAGINAL FLORA AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH PRETERM LABOUR PAIN AND PPROM

Objective: The aim of this study is to describe the bacterial flora of women in preterm labor with or without premature rupture of membranes. Methods: Prospective studies of 200 patients with preterm labor were performed. Results: 32 of 200 patients with preterm labor (16%) had bacterial vaginosis. 76 of the 200 patients with preterm labor (38 %) developed premature rupture of the membranes (preterm PROM). Of the 76 patients with preterm PROM, 14 (18.4%) had bacterial vaginosis. Therefore, 14 of the 32 patients with bacterial vaginosis (43.75%) developed preterm PROM. An increased number of organisms detected from the vaginal discharge in patients with preterm labor was associated with preterm PROM. An increased number of organisms detected from the vaginal discharge in patients with preterm labor complicated with bacterial vaginosis was significantly associated with preterm PROM. Conclusions: In preterm labor, the number of different species detected in the vagina provide sensitive and specific prediction of preterm PROM in patients with preterm labor.