Contamination Is Not Linked to the Gestational Microbiome

Recent evidence for a gestational microbiome suggests that active transfer between mother and fetusin utero is possible, and, therefore, actions must be taken to clarify the presence versus absence of these organisms in their respected sources. The value of this study is the differentiation between bacterial DNA identified in the necropsy rooms of animals and bacterial DNA whose origin is purely clinical in nature. We do not know the extent to which microorganisms traverse maternal tissues and infiltrate fetal circulation, so measures taken to control for contamination during sample processing are vital for addressing these concerns.