Comparison of the Cervical Culture Results in Preterm Labor and Premature Rupture of Membranes

Objective: To analyze the cervical culture results of pregnant women who present with normal pregnancy, preterm labor and premature rupture of membranes. Material and Methods: This study was prospectively done on 439 patients who were admitted to our hospital between January and November 2010. One hundred twenty-one were normal term pregnancies, 170 were preterm labor and 148 of them had premature rupture of membranes. The age range of the patients was 24-32 age, they were non-smokers and the mean body mass index is between 20 and 27. There was not additional disease in these patients in pre-pregnancy or pregnancy. p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: Detected colonization in culture was 14.9%, 41.8%, 30.4 for normal pregnancy, preterm labor and premature rupture of membranes respectively. The most common microorganism was Escherichia coli for all groups. Colonization of microorganisms in preterm labor was statistically significant compared with normal pregnancy (p<0.001, odds ratio (OR) 4.1; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.284-7.375). Colonization of microorganisms was also statistically significant for pregnant women with premature rupture of the membranes (p=0.003, OR 2.5; 95% CI 1.357-4.606). Conclusion: Colonization in cervical culture for preterm labor and premature rupture of membranes was statistically higher compared with normal pregnancy.