Research Article: Maternal Infection and Preterm Birth: From Molecular Basis to Clinical Implications
Abstract:
As the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality, preterm birth is recognized as a major public health concern around the world. The purpose of this review is to analyze the connection between infections and premature birth. Spontaneous preterm birth is commonly associated with intrauterine infection/inflammation. The overproduction of prostaglandins caused by the inflammation associated with an infection could lead to uterine contractions, contributing to preterm delivery. Many pathogens, particularly Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Trichomonas vaginalis, Gardnerella vaginalis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis, Actinomyces, Candida spp., and Streptococcus spp. have been related with premature delivery, chorioamnionitis, and sepsis of the neonate. Further research regarding the prevention of preterm delivery is required in order to develop effective preventive methods with the aim of reducing neonatal morbidity.
Introduction:
Preterm birth (PTB), defined as birth prior to 37 weeks’ gestation, is the main cause of neonatal death, as 27% of neonatal mortality is related to complications of PTB [1]. According to the World Health Organization, the global annual burden of PTB is estimated to be 15 million [2]. The incidence of PTB has been calculated at 12.7 % in the United States of America, while other developed countries such as Sweden, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand have PTB rates between 4.4 and 8.2% [3,4,5]. Regional variations are…
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