Association of bacterial vaginosis with adverse pregnancy outcome

ABSTRACT

Objective was to examine whether there is a relationship between bacterial vaginosis, premature rupture of membranes [PROM] and preterm labor [PTL]. Two hundred pregnant women at less than 34 weeks gestation were screened for bacterial vaginosis. The diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis [B.V] was based on vaginal pH >/- 4.5 and gram stain of vaginal smears. The occurrence of [PROM] and [PTL] was recorded for each case. Setting: El- Minia University Hospital. The prevalence of [B.V] among healthy pregnant women, women with [PROM] and those delivering prematurely was [13/125 = 10.4 percent], [7/23=30.43 percent] and [14/52= 26.73 percent] respectively. Women with bacterial vaginosis were found to be more likely to develop PROM and preterm labor when compared to healthy pregnant women [P-value = 0.0026 and 0.0030] respectively. Bacterial vaginosis [B.V] occurs in a significantly higher proportion of women with adverse pregnancy outcome compared to those with healthy pregnancy. Bacterial vaginosis should be thought of when dealing with a case of adverse pregnancy outcome especially if it is of unknown origin