[Intrauterine infection in premature rupture of fetal membranes--dynamics]

One of the controversies in the theoretical and practical obstetrics is the relationship between the length of the latent period after the PROM and the incidence of the intrauterine infection (IUI).

To establish how the incidence of IUI changes with the duration of the latent period after PROM.

Prospective study.

Five hundred seventy six pregnant women with PROM and their newborn infants were included. The clinical, laboratory and histological signs of IUI were observed. The incidence of the cases with clinically manifested IUI, histologically approved IUI and neonatal infections at different length of the latent period were explored.

The incidence of the inflammatory changes in the fetal membranes, umbilical cord and placenta increased progressively with the prolongation of the latent period, respectively--in 34.4% after 24 hours, 52.0% after 48 hours, 87% after the 72-th hour. Inflammatory changes in umbilical cord rised sharply from 8.0 to 47.8% after 72 hours from the PROM. Clinically manifested IUI and neonatal infection also rised sharply after the 72-th hour after the PROM, respectively--at 62.9% and 22.5%.

There is a relationship between the incidence of the infectious complications and the duration of the latent period after the PROM. The risk of IUI rises sharply between the 24-th and the 72-th hour after the PROM.