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Vaginal colonization by Escherichia coli as a risk factor for very low birth weight delivery and other perinatal
M A Krohn1, S S Thwin, L K Rabe
1University of Pittsburgh, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Pennsylvania 15213-3180, USA.
This study evaluated the relationship of vaginal Escherichia coli colonization to birth weight <1500 g and other perinatal complications in a cross-sectional study of 2646 women at the University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, between October 1992 and January 1995. Vaginal E. coli colonization was more strongly associated with delivery at <34 weeks (relative risk [RR], 1.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-2.3) and very low birth weight (RR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.3-2.7) than with prematurity between 34 and 36 weeks or low birth weight. Heavy growth of E. coli had a higher risk of very low birth weight than light growth (RR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.0-6.2). It may be important to screen and treat pregnant women for genital tract colonization with E. coli during prenatal care.
This study evaluated the relationship of vaginal Escherichia coli colonization to birth weight <1500 g and other perinatal complications in a cross-sectional study of 2646 women at the University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, between October 1992 and January 1995. Vaginal E. coli colonization was more strongly associated with delivery at <34 weeks (relative risk [RR], 1.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-2.3) and very low birth weight (RR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.3-2.7) than with prematurity between 34 and 36 weeks or low birth weight. Heavy growth of E. coli had a higher risk of very low birth weight than light growth (RR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.0-6.2). It may be important to screen and treat pregnant women for genital tract colonization with E. coli during prenatal care.