Infection and preterm birth

Hugh C G Nadeau; Akila Subramaniam; William W Andrews

doi:10.1016/j.siny.2015.12.008

Infection and preterm birth

Semin Fetal Neonatal Med. 2016 Apr;21(2):100-5. doi: 10.1016/j.siny.2015.12.008. Epub 2016 Jan 6.

Authors

Hugh C G Nadeau¹, Akila Subramaniam², William W Andrews²

Affiliations

¹ UAB Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA. Electronic address: hnadeau@uabmc.edu.
² UAB Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA.

PMID: 26778525
DOI: 10.1016/j.siny.2015.12.008

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.

Keywords: Metabolome; Microbiome; Premature birth; Reproductive tract infections; Sexually transmitted diseases; Vaginosis.

MeSH terms

Female
Humans
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / microbiology
Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / physiopathology*
Premature Birth / epidemiology
Premature Birth / etiology*
Premature Birth / microbiology
Risk Factors