The use of the nonstress test in patients with premature rupture of the membranes.

The value of the nonstress test in predicting the outcome of infection was determined by a retrospective analysis of 127 consecutive high-risk patients who presented with premature rupture of the membranes and no clinical signs of infection or labor. The last study performed within 48 hours of delivery was used for comparison with the outcome of pregnancy. The relationship between nonstress test results and the outcome of pregnancy, as reflected by the development of clinical amnionitis and/or neonatal sepsis, was determined. The sensitivity and specificity of the nonstress test in predicting infection outcome in patients with premature rupture of the membranes were 78.1% and 86.3%, respectively. These data suggest that the nonstress test is a useful tool for evaluating patients with premature rupture of the membranes.