Bacterial Vaginosis in Pregnancy (<28 Weeks) and its Effect on Pregnancy Outcome: A Study from a Western UP City.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a vaginal infection involving a reduction in the amount of hydrogen-peroxideproducing Lactobacillus and an overgrowth of anaerobic and gram-negative or gram-variable bacteria. Its prevalence in pregnancy is upto 15-30% and it can have a bearing on pregnancy outcome. It has been associated with preterm labor and preterm delivery, premature rupture of membranes (PROM), amniotic fluid infections and postpartum endometritis. Material and methods: Five hundred antenatal patients admitted or attending antenatal outpatient clinic in Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, LLRMMC and associated SVBP Hospital, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh in last one year were enrolled after a written and informed consent. Patients included were <28 weeks gestation and without any known risk factors for premature delivery. BV was diagnosed by Nugent’s criteria and correlated with occurrence of preterm labor, PROM and postpartum endometritis. Result: BV was found in 98 of the 500 patients studied. Twenty-three of the 98 BV patients had preterm delivery and this association was significant (p < 0.0001). Fourteen patients of BV had PROM and this association was also significant (p < 0.001). Six patients of BV also had postpartum endometritis. Conclusion: The above results suggest that screening for BV should start in early pregnancy and a high index of suspicion for preterm delivery should be kept in antenatal patients with BV.