Previous intra-amniotic infection as a risk factor for subsequent peripartal uterine infections

The risk of recurrent intra-amniotic infection was assessed in 76 women with a previous pregnancy complicated by intra-amniotic infection. Recurrent intra-amniotic infection occurred in five (6.6%), not significantly different from the incidence of 4.4% in a comparison population. When controlled by logistic regression for the increased cesarean section rate in the group with previous intra-amniotic infection, the incidence of endometritis was not significantly different between the groups. After eliminating nulliparas and patients who did not undergo labor, the incidence of intra-amniotic infection in patients with previous infections was not significantly increased over the comparison group. Those patients who did develop recurrent intra-amniotic infection had significantly longer labors (P less than .001), duration of ruptured membranes (P = .002), and duration of internal monitoring (P less than .001), and an increased number of vaginal examinations (P less than .001).