Implications of Premature Ruptured Membranes Labor in Newborns’ Infectious Pathology

Objectives: Evaluation of the premature ruptured membranes incidence in a neonatology service, identification of microbial agents involved in producing infections with intrapartum onset and analysis of clinical and evolutive parameters involved in these cases. Material and method: Anamnestic, clinical and paraclinical data research, on all newborns resulted from premature ruptured membranes labors registered in year 2007 in the “Bega” Hospital in Timisoara. Results: In the studied sample, 7.19% of the total cases have presented premature rupture of membranes. It can be noticed an increased incidence of this kind of cases in newborns with a low birth weight (three times bigger than in newborns with normal birth weight). The distribution of cases according to the ovular rupture duration indicates 1⁄2 for 12-24 hours, 1⁄4 between 24 and 48 hours and 1⁄4 over 48 hours. Most frequently involved infectious agents were staphylococcus aureus and gram-negative bacillus. A manifest infection was identified in 40.83% of cases; a generalized infection was found to be present especially in newborns with low birth weight. Conclusions: The risks for newborns developed infections increases with the prolonging of premature ruptured membranes labor’s duration and the newborns’ low birth weight. Prolonged labor in cases with premature rupture of membranes indicates the need for starting early antibiotic therapy in resulting newborns.