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Bacteria and Inflammatory Cells in Fetal Membranes Do Not Always Cause Preterm Labor
Open accessAbstract
Intrauterine infection has been frequently linked with preterm labor before 30 wk of human pregnancy. Many different species of organisms have been detected, leading to the suggestion that infection-induced preterm labor is a generic inflammatory response to organisms rather than a specific response to a limited number of pathogens. The detection of organisms by microbiological culture is a laborious and unreliable process, so the aim of this study was to harness modern molecular techniques to detect organisms in tissues from human pregnancy. A DNA probe specific for conserved regions of bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA sequence was designed and labeled with fluorescein for fluorescence in situ hybridization. Organisms were detected in the great majority (>80%) of fetal membranes after prolonged premature rupture of the fetal membranes and after preterm labor, which was consistent with previous data. Organisms were also detected in fetal membranes after preterm delivery without labor and in term deliveries (with or without labour). Inflammatory cells were found frequently in the amnion or chorion of preterm fetal membranes but not in term tissues. Our primary finding is that fluorescence in situ hybridization is an appropriate method to detect organisms in human fetal membranes. In addition, our data show that bacteria may be present in fetal membranes without necessarily causing an inflammatory response, so the mere presence of bacteria may not be sufficient to cause preterm labor.
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“Fluorescence in-situ hybridisation with a DNA probe specific for conserved regions of bacterial DNA (the 16S ribosomal RNA) has detected bacteria in the membranes of up to 70% of women undergoing elective caesarean section at term.85”
From Epidemiology and causes of preterm birth (2008) · cites this paper as [85]
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“These findings suggest that the presence of bacteria in the chorioamnion alone cannot be sufficient to cause an inflammatory response, preterm labour, and preterm birth.85”
From Epidemiology and causes of preterm birth (2008) · cites this paper as [85]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Steel, J. H., Malatos, S., Kennea, N., Edwards, A. D., Miles, L., Duggan, P., Reynolds, P. R., Feldman, R. G., & Sullivan, M. H. F.
- Affiliations
- Imperial College London (GB)
- Hammersmith Hospital (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Sullivan, Mark H F
- Venue
- Pediatric Research
- Published
- 2005-03
- Volume
- 57
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 404-411
- ISSN
- 0031-3998 (ISSN-L)
- 1530-0447
- OpenAlex
- W2025568822
- Cited by
- 317
- References
- 52
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 28 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 23 · 2017: 35 · 2016: 23 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 13
- FWCI
- 6.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Pediatric Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Portal (King's College London) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Preterm Birth and Chorioamnionitis
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Neonatal and Maternal Infections
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Microbiology › Reproductive tract infections research
- Keywords
- preterm labor, fetal membranes, intrauterine infection, bacterial 16S rRNA, fluorescence in situ hybridization, bacterial detection, inflammatory cells, amniotic membrane, chorion, premature rupture of membranes, preterm birth, term pregnancy
- MeSH terms
- Bacteria, Female, Extraembryonic Membranes, Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture, Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes, Gestational Age, Humans, Immune System, Obstetric Labor, Premature, Pregnancy, RNA, Bacterial, RNA, Ribosomal, 16S, Nucleic Acid Probes, Antigens, CD, In Situ Hybridization, In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence, Premature Birth
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