Objective: To examine the relationship of endocervical pathogens and
cervicitis with the development of chorioamnionitis, premature rupture
of membranes (FROM) and prematurity. Methods: Three groups of pregnant
women were included in the study: group A, controls with no evidence of
cervicitis; group B, women with cervicitis due to pathogenic bacteria,
who had been treated; and group C, women with untreated cervicitis who
had not followed the prescribed therapy. Endocervical samples were
cultured and aerobic and anaerobic bacteria isolated to examine the
correlation of cervicitis with chorioamnionitis, FROM and prematurity.
Results: There was a significantly higher incidence of prematurity in
women with untreated cervicitis (group C). Mixed endocervical pathogens
were most often involved (36.3%). A significantly higher number of
endocervical pathogens were isolated in cases of chorioamnionitis (P <
0.001). Prematurity was seen in 39.6% of cases of chorioamnionitis.
Prematurity was also more common in women with FROM (42.1%) than in
those with intact membranes (11.8%). Conclusion: It is concluded that
untreated endocervical infections are an etiological factor of
chorioamnionitis, FROM and prematurity
