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Modeling Ascending Vaginal Infection, Preterm Birth, and Neonatal Morbidity in Mice
04:18

Modeling Ascending Vaginal Infection, Preterm Birth, and Neonatal Morbidity in Mice

Published on: October 10, 2025

654

Infection and preterm birth

Hugh C G Nadeau1, Akila Subramaniam1, William W Andrews1

  • 1UAB Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA.

Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine
|January 19, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Infection is a significant risk factor for preterm birth (PTB), a leading cause of infant mortality. Identifying specific pathogens using advanced technologies like microbiomics may help reduce PTB rates.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Preterm birth (PTB) is a major contributor to infant morbidity and mortality worldwide.
  • Infection is recognized as a significant risk factor for PTB, but specific causative agents remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the association between infection and PTB.
  • To explore the role of specific infections in PTB.
  • To highlight novel technologies for identifying PTB pathogens.

Main Methods:

  • A literature search was conducted on the PubMed database.
  • Studies published in English between 1995 and July 2015 were included.

Main Results:

  • Substantial evidence links infection to PTB.
  • The precise role of specific bacterial and viral infections in PTB is not fully established.
  • Emerging technologies like microbiomics and metabolomics show promise in pathogen identification.

Conclusions:

  • Infection is a critical factor in PTB.
  • Further research using advanced biological technologies is needed to pinpoint causative pathogens.
  • Development of strategies to reduce PTB is ongoing.

Keywords:
MetabolomeMicrobiomePremature birthReproductive tract infectionsSexually transmitted diseasesVaginosis

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