Bacterial vaginosis in pregnancy

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a clinical condition in which there is a shift in the vaginal flora away from Lactobacillus species towards more diverse bacterial species, including facultative anaerobes. Pregnant women with BV are at higher risk of preterm labour and many other associated complications.

OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of BV at our center and to analyse the maternal and fetal complications associated with BV in pregnant women.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective descriptive observational study.

PARTICIPANTS: All pregnant women admitted at our center for delivery.

METHODS: Subjects were screened for BV by Amstel criteria. Adverse maternal outcome was noted if the patient had a preterm delivery and adverse fetal outcome was determined by low (<7) Apgar score, low birth weight (LBW) , NICU admission and sepsis in the newborn during the first 3 days of life.

RESULTS: During the study period the prevalence of BV at our center was 21.28%. BV was found in 37.16% of the patients who had a preterm delivery as compared to only 21.31% of patients who had a term delivery. It was also found that low Apgar score, LBW, NICU admission and sepsis occurred in comparatively higher percentages in neonates born to BV positive mothers at term. Also in neonates born preterm to BV positive mothers, NICU admission and sepsis occurred in comparatively higher percentages as compared to neonates born to BV negative mothers.

CONCLUSION: BV is an independent risk factor for preterm birth and it appears to increase the risk of adverse neonatal outcomes.

IMPLICATIONS: Since it is easy to detect BV in pregnant women and if diagnosed in early pregnancy and treated with proper antimicrobial therapy, we can decrease the burden of prematurity and adverse neonatal outcome.