Early Path Medical Consultation Services

Early Path Medical Consultation Services
Pathology Services Working for Safer Pregnancies

Intrauterine Infection & Acute Inflammation

Intrauterine infection during pregnancy can follow ascending, hematogenous (from the maternal blood stream), transabdominal or transfallopian pathways. The most common route is ascent from the perineum, cervix and vagina. The causative organisms may be of low virulence, part of these regions' normal flora or obvious pathogens (e.g., E.coli). The infectious agent may either colonize the extraplacental membranes or cross the intact or ruptured membranes into the amniotic fluid.

The extraplacental membranes most often rupture because they are already infected. However, loss of the mechanical barrier of the amnion, chorion and decidua to ascending organisms and reduction of the bacteria killing capacity of the amniotic fluid may certainly facilitate subsequent ascent of additional numbers and/or types of microrganisms. If inflamed membranes are cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria (Mycoplasma or Ureaplasma), organisms will be recovered in 75% of cases; many consist of mixed infections. Fustobacterium is an anaerobic filamentous bacterium that results in necrosis (cell death) of the amnion membrane and is often associated with preterm delivery. Group B Streptococcus may result in "clouds" of bacteria without an appropriate maternal inflammatory response, especially in cases of chronic carriers. Diverse Candida species may also be pathogens.

Acute Inflammation Case Reports (coming soon)

DISCLAIMER: This communication is for educational purposes only and it is not to be used as a substitute for a consultation with your physician. Should you contact Dr. Salafia's office, any responses to you will be based on the information you provide and no attempt will be made to confirm or verify any such information, including any laboratory data you may submit. Questions regarding actual symptoms of illness or health conditions should be addressed to a local health care practitioner who can physically examine and take responsibility for your care throughout the course of your condition/illness, which Dr. Salafia, being a physician licensed to practice medicine only in the State of New York, cannot and will not do. You should NOT use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem; rather, you should consult a qualified health care provider who examines you in person and who is licensed to practice in the state where you are located.