[The effect of amniotic fluid on Neisseria gonorrhoeae]

This study shows the antibacterial effect of amniotic fluid collected on 10 women from 32 to 38 weeks. Two techniques were used. The first is a quantitative analysis of a bacterial culture with amniotic fluid as compared to controls, with inhibition by the amniotic fluid demonstrated. The second is a morphologic analysis of gonorrheal cultures by electron microscopy, showing alteration of the bacteria when amniotic fluid is present. These facts are of interest when one tries to understand the discrepancy between high rates of discovery of bacteria during pregnancy and low rates of intra-amniotic infection by Neisseria gonorrhoeae.