Fetal Membrane Infections on the Rise, Study Finds
19June2013
Amniotic fluid infections, medically known as chorioamnionitis, are among the major causes of premature births in the United States. These infections affect the amniotic fluid, fetal membrane, and placental tissues. New data suggest that these infections have increased at a staggering rate across the country.
A new study published in the International Journal of Reproductive Medicine shows that amniotic fluid infection rates more than doubled between 1995 and 2010. During 1995-1996, the rate of chorioamnionitis was just 2.7 percent of all live births. However, during 2009-2010, the rate of infections was approximately 6 percent. Researchers with Kaiser Permanente reviewed more than 431,000 live births at Kaiser Permanente hospitals in Southern California during the period.
Women who had labor induced for medical reasons had highest rates of fetal membrane infections, followed by women who were induced without an obvious medical necessity to do so, according to the study. During the period covered by the study, the rate of labor induction increased by 46 percent.
A fetal membrane infection typically begins with a bacterial infection in the upper genital tract of the mother. Consequences can include premature birth, infant mortality, and infant illness after birth. Babies born with serious infections are placed in neonatal intensive care units, and may suffer from cerebral palsy and chronic lung disorders. Amniotic fluid infections are responsible for as many as 50 percent of all premature births in the United States
Fetal membrane infections increased for women of all races and ethnicities. Hispanic and Asian women experienced some of the largest increases in infection rates. The study found that Infection rates of Hispanic women increased by 145 percent and the rates for Asian women increased by 151 percent.
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