Relationship between Urogenital Culture Positivity and Threatened Preterm Labor in Pregnant Women

Authors : Aysun Firat, Doruk Cevdi Katlan, Nebahat Uzunay

Pages : 229-233

Doi:10.46332/aemj.1372943

View : 39 | Download : 39

Publication Date : 2024-08-27

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Purpose: Preterm labor (TPL), which can result in preterm birth, is known as one of the most common causes of pregnancy complications and neonatal morbidities. This study investigates the relationship between positive urogenital culture and preterm labor in patients with TPL. Materials and Methods: Between 2018 and 2022, medical records of patients monitored due to threatened preterm labor (TPL) were reviewed. Demographic data, gestational histories, and results of vaginal swabs and urine samples were recorded. Transvaginal ultrasound was used to measure cervical length during preterm and term births, categorized as <25mm, <20mm, and <15mm. Statistical analyses were conducted using Chi-square, Mann-Whitney U, and Pearson\'s correlation (r) tests. A significance level of P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 202 patients monitored for TPL were included. Approximately half of the patients (40-50%) tested positive for vaginal culture, whereas this rate was much lower in urine culture (10-15%). There was no significant difference in terms of both vaginal and urine cultures among patients who had early preterm, late preterm, and term births (p>0.05). However, it was observed that positive culture results increased parallel to cervical length shortening (CL<15mm) in both early and late preterm births (p<0.05). Candida, Staphylococcus, and Escherichia species were the most frequently isolated organisms. Conclusion: In patients with TPL, urogenital culture results did not show significant differences between preterm and term births (r=0.19). However, it is crucial not to overlook the potential of culture positivity (r=0.74) increasing in parallel with cervical length reduction to initiate early labor.
Keywords : erken doğum tehdidi, idrar kültürü, preterm eylem, ürogenital infeksiyon, vaginal kültür