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International Journal of Recent Trends in Science and Technology, ISSN 2277-2812 E-ISSN: 2249-8109

Volume 10, Issue 1, February 2014 pp 10-19

Research Article

The Study of the Pattern of Maternal Vaginal Flora in Labour and Its Association with Neonatal Sepsis

Sangeeta Basu¹, S. Y. Ingale², V. R. Potdar³, Basaveshwar Patil⁴, C. D. Aundhakar⁵

^1.4Resident, ²Assistant Professor, ³Professor, ⁵Professor and Head

Academic Editor : Dr. Aher K.R.

Infection continues to account for a major proportion of maternal, fetal and neonatal mortality and morbidity worldwide. The shared relationship between mothers and their newborns leads to common risk factors and etiologies of infectious diseases. Neonatal sepsis continues to be one of the leading causes of neonatal mortality in India. Neonatal sepsis is defined as a clinical syndrome of bacteremia with systemic signs and symptoms of infection in the first 4 weeks of life. The present study has been undertaken to understand the pattern of maternal vaginal flora in labour and its relation with neonatal sepsis. Knowledge of the significant organisms in the genital tract of the pregnant woman and the peripartal risk factors can help us to develop strategies to control the transmission from mother to child or from environment to the neonate. Prevention of these infections could be practiced through screening programs for mothers vaginorectal colonization, identification of pathogenic organisms and administration of antibiotic prophylaxis to mothers or high risk neonates. Early treatment with appropriate antibiotics would minimize the risk of severe morbidity and mortality besides reducing the emergence of multidrug resistant organisms in intensive care units by rational antibiotic use.