Relationship between Urogenital Culture Positivity and Threatened Preterm Labor in Pregnant Women

Abstract

Purpose: Preterm labor (TPL), which can result in preterm birth, is known as one of the most common causes of pregnancy complications and neonatal morbidities. This study investigates the relationship between positive urogenital culture and preterm labor in patients with TPL. Materials and Methods: Between 2018 and 2022, medical records of patients monitored due to threatened preterm labor (TPL) were reviewed. Demographic data, gestational histories, and results of vaginal swabs and urine samples were recorded. Transvaginal ultrasound was used to measure cervical length during preterm and term births, categorized as 0.05). However, it was observed that positive culture results increased parallel to cervical length shortening (CL<15mm) in both early and late preterm births (p<0.05). Candida, Staphylococcus, and Escherichia species were the most frequently isolated organisms. Conclusion: In patients with TPL, urogenital culture results did not show significant differences between preterm and term births (r=0.19). However, it is crucial not to overlook the potential of culture positivity (r=0.74) increasing in parallel with cervical length reduction to initiate early labor.

Keywords

• preterm delivery
• threatened preterm labor
• urine culture
• urogenital infection
• vaginal culture