[Chorioamniotic infections following diagnostic amniocentesis in the 2d trimester]

Between 1978 and 1984 we performed 3 122 amniocentesis for prenatal diagnosis in second trimester. Based on a four week follow-up in more than 96% of all amniocentesis the percentage of fetal loss was 0.74% (n = 23). In 13 cases abortion was accompanied by chorioamnionitis. These cases were examined for various technical details and it could be concluded, that the incidence of febrile abortion is related to the early gestational age for amniocentesis. On the other hand, multiple insertions or the localisation of placenta both show no relation to the short-time febrile complications. To investigate the maternal-fetal transfer of mezlocillin, a single dose of 5 g mezlocillin was administered intravenously in 25 patients. In amniotic fluid mezlocillin levels exceeded 2 micrograms/ml nearly 120 minutes after administration. These pharmacokinetic data suggest, that a prophylactic regimen with antibiotics in the course of amniocentesis seems not to be beneficial for the prevention of chorio-amniotic infections.