Clinical and laboratory characteristics of chorioamnionitis and neonatal outcomes
Information on clinical and laboratory characteristics of all study participants is presented in table 2, and data on neonatal and maternal outcomes in table 3. Approximately half of all women had a temperature ≥ 38.0°C persisting for more than 30 minutes, and 23% had at least one measured temperature ≥ 39.0°C. In two thirds of the deliveries, maternal and/or fetal tachycardia was present. Maternal malaise was specified as present in one of five patients. In close to 60% of patients, meconium-stained amniotic fluid was noted. The vast majority (96%) received intravenous antibiotics. In total, 348 (70%) cervical cultures were sent for analysis, whereof 133 (38%) were positive. The most frequently isolated bacteria were Group B Streptococci (GBS), present in 60% of positive cervical cultures, followed by Escherichia Coli (12%) (All specific bacteria detected in the positive cervical cultures are presented in supportive information eTable 5) .
In total, 29 (6%) neonates had an Apgar score < 7 at 5 minutes, and 10% suffered from an infection in the neonatal period. In 58 (12%) of neonates, the umbilical artery blood gas indicated fetal acidemia, and 110 (22%) suffered from a complication, which could indicate asphyxia.