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Diagnosis of intrauterine infection by demonstration of antibody‐coated bacteria in the amniotic fluid
Author(s) -
MØLLER MARGRETHE,
WRENSEN J.,
JEPSEN F. LØVE,
THOMSEN A. C.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1986.tb07900.x
Subject(s) - amniotic fluid , antibody , bacteria , medicine , obstetrics , body fluid , immunofluorescence , intrauterine device , pregnancy , fetus , pathology , immunology , biology , population , research methodology , family planning , genetics , environmental health
Summary. Immunofluorescence examination of amniotic fluid for the occurrence of antibody‐coated bacteria was carried out in 72 consecutive women with premature rupture of the fetal membranes to assess this method in the diagnosis of intrauterine infection. Antibody‐coated bacteria were demonstrated in 11 women with clinical signs of intrauterine infection, histological amnionitis and heavy growth of one bacterial species. The presence of intrauterine infection was considered possible in another 14 women. One patient had no clinical signs of infection, but positive histological and bacteriological evidence; anti‐body‐coated bacteria were demonstrated in this patient, but not in the remaining 13 women. In 47 women clinical, histological and bacteriological signs of intrauterine infection were absent, and examinations for antibody‐coated bacteria were negative in all of them. It is concluded that the demonstration of antibody‐coated bacteria in amniotic fluid indicates the presence of intrauterine infection, and the examination may in some cases be positive before the appearance of clinical signs of infection.