Genital Flora during Pregnancy and Colonization of the Newborn

Abstract

Summary: A longitudinal study of the cervical and vaginal microflora of 131 pregnant women showed a similar range of organisms at first visit (up to 16 weeks), at 28 weeks and at 36 weeks of pregnancy. Twenty different groups or genera of microorganisms were recovered, predominantly lactobacilli. There was a fall in the isolation rate of organisms in the mothers 6 to 8 weeks after delivery. Lactobacilli and yeasts including Candida albicans were recovered less .frequently whereas the incidence of Escherichia coli and group B streptococci increased.Infants born to these mothers were swabbed within 24 hours of delivery and yielded organisms from the umbilicus, ear and mouth in 24%, 33% and 38% of cases respectively. Alpha haemolytic streptococci and Staphylococcus aureus were the-predominant organisms. Sixteen different groups or genera were isolated.The isolation rates in non-pregnant women attending a 'well-women' clinic were similar to those in the postnatal mothers; few women of 60 years or more were colonized.

Spontaneous abortion‐an infectious aetiology?

“…(Hood & Todd 1980), we failed to isolate this micro-organism from any patient although the results of previous studies (J. Dolby, personal communication) indicated that the method of transport and storage was likely to maintain the viability of the organisms. Furthermore, the prevalence and range of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria isolated were similar to those found in previous studies of pregnant women (Ross & Needham 1980;Tashjian et al 1976) and did not indicate that any species of micro-organism was associated particularly with abortion. It, therefore, seems unlikely that occult infection is an important cause of spontaneous abortion in the patients we studied who did not predominate in any of the socioeconomic groups.…”

Transmission of Mother’s Microflora to the Newborn at Birth

“…Thus, even the pre viously described increase in counts of Lacto bacilli as gestation advanced [3,21] and simi lar hormonal status of women during delivery [21] could not reduce the individuality of microflora. This individuality was also com mon in case of the contaminated newborns and has been demonstrated while screening risk-of-infection newborns due to the contam ination with opportunistic pathogens [6,10,22,23]. However, all the numerous investiga tions have in most cases only registered either the presence or absence of potential patho gens, and their value in predicting the infec tious agents is no doubt limited [24],…”

Neonatal suppurative parotitis over the last 4 decades: Report of three new cases and review

“…The causative agents are thought to be derived from the patients' mouth flora. The newborns acquire their first microflora of the mouth, ear and skin from the mother's birth canal during normal vaginal delivery …”

“…The newborns acquire their first microflora of the mouth, ear and skin from the mother's birth canal during normal vaginal delivery. 18 Parotid gland infection may take place by one of two routes. Either ascending through the Stensen duct, and this appears to be the most common way, or by hematogenous spread as part of septicemia.…”