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A Murine Model of Group B Streptococcus Vaginal Colonization
Published on: November 16, 2016
Maternal genitourinary infection and small for gestational age
Joshua R Mann1, Suzanne McDermott, Anthony Gregg
1Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, South Carolina 29203, USA. joshua.mann@uscmed.sc.edu
American Journal of Perinatology
|May 20, 2009
Summary
Maternal genitourinary (GU) infections during pregnancy were not significantly linked to having a small for gestational age (SGA) infant. However, a weak association was observed for infections during the second trimester.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Neonatal Health
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Background:
- Children born small for gestational age (SGA) face higher risks of adverse neurological outcomes.
- Limited evidence suggests a potential link between maternal genitourinary (GU) infections and SGA.
- Understanding risk factors for SGA is crucial for improving infant health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between maternal genitourinary (GU) infections during pregnancy and the incidence of small for gestational age (SGA) births.
- To explore potential differences in this association based on the timing of the GU infection during pregnancy.
Main Methods:
- Utilized linked South Carolina Medicaid billing data and birth certificate records for 141,035 mother-infant dyads (1996-2002).
- Employed logistic regression modeling to assess the association between maternal GU infections and SGA, controlling for covariates.
- Analyzed GU infections categorized by trimester of pregnancy.
Main Results:
- Overall maternal GU infection was not significantly associated with SGA (OR = 1.03, p = 0.143).
- Second-trimester GU infection showed a statistically significant but weak association with SGA (OR = 1.08, p = 0.005).
- Factors like maternal age, substance use, preeclampsia, and hypertension were significantly associated with increased SGA risk.
Conclusions:
- Maternal genitourinary (GU) infections during pregnancy are generally not associated with delivering a small for gestational age (SGA) infant.
- A potential modest association may exist for second-trimester GU infections, but its clinical significance is uncertain.
- Further research is needed to clarify the role of specific infection timings and potential confounding factors.
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