[Premature rupture of fetal membranes]

Our investigations on premature rupture of the fetal membranes (PROM) show that prematurity represents a higher risk for the fetus than infection does. Therefore we tend to be expectant in case of PROM combined with prematurity. On the other hand latency between rupture of the membranes and onset of labor should not exceed 24 hours for a mature fetus (gestational age greater than 37 weeks, estimated weight greater than 2500 g, L/S-ratio greater than 2). Antibiotics are applied only in case of manifest infection and at the onset of labor following a latency longer than 24 hours.