Assessment of Bacterial Vaginosis Incidence and Neonatal Outcome on Cases with Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes

OBJECTIVE: The effect of bacterial vaginosis on cases with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) was searched via screening for bacterial vaginosis (BV) in cases with PPROM and healthy pregnant women during same gestational weeks. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The study incorporates 121 patients who applied to obstetrics poly-clinics at our hospital. Detailed medical histories were obtained from all patients, prior to vaginal examination by sterile speculum. Vaginal samples were taken for analysis via Nugent scoring system. Through verbal scoring, the symptoms due to vaginitis, namely, vaginal discharge, vaginal burning, pruritis, dysuria and malodor were recorded. With regard to pre and postnatal periods, age, gestational week, complete blood count values, history of gravida, parity and abortion, history of PPROM and duration, gestational week at the time of delivery, mode of delivery of the cases and maternal morbidity were evaluated. All participants were asked to grant informed consents. The study was held under approval by Ethics Committee of the Hospital. RESULTS: The study incorporated 72 cases of pregnant women with PPROM as study group, and 49 cases of healthy pregnant women as control group. No statistically significant difference was determined in terms of average age, gravida and parity values. Nugent scoring system revealed bacterial vaginosis in 75 cases (75/121; 61.9%) in total: 43 in PPROM study group (43/72; 35.5 %) and 32 in control groups (32/49; 26.4%). Statistically, BV was determined at a higher ratio in PPROM study group; similarly, vaginal delivery ratio was higher and APGAR scores of neonates at 1st and 5th minutes were lower in PPROM study group, compared to control group (p