Bacterial vaginosis and vaginal anaerobes in preterm labour.

Maternal genital infections, particularly bacterial vaginosis has been implicated as a cause for preterm labour and adverse pregnancy outcomes. This prospective study aimed to study the association of bacterial vaginosis with preterm labour. The prevalence of bacterial vaginosis was studied in 60 women in preterm labour who had no recognisable cause for prematurity and in 60 term labour controls. Demographic factors, pregnancy outcome and reproductive history were also studied. Vaginal specimens for Gram-stain and culture were collected from posterior vaginal fomix and bacterial vaginosis was defined by evaluation of Gram-stained smear by Spiegel criteria. Bacterial vaginosis was diagnosed in 31.6% of women in preterm labour and in 15% of term labour controls ( p<0.05). In preterm labour group, preterm delivery occurred in 48 women (80%) out of which 18 women had bacterial vaginosis and term delivery occurred in only one woman with the condition. Anaerobes were significantly associated with bacterial vaginosis ( p<0.01) and were more common in women with preterm labour ( b>0.05). The results indicates that bacterial vaginosis has a significant association with preterm labour and adverse pregnancy outcome.