BROAD-SPECTRUM BACTERIAL RDNA POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION ASSAY FOR DETECTING AMNIOTIC-FLUID INFECTION AMONG WOMEN IN PREMATURE LABOR

We amplified bacterial 16S rRNA encoding DNA (rDNA) with the polymeras e chain reaction (PCR) to detect amniotic fluid infection in 69 women in premature labor whose membranes were intact. Bacterial rDNA was det ected by PCR in samples from 15 (94%) of 16 patients with positive amn iotic fluid cultures, Bacteria were detected by PCR in samples from 5 (36%) of 14 patients with negative cultures and elevated interleukin ( IL)-6 levels vs. 1 (3%) of 39 patients with negative cultures and IL-6 levels of less than or equal to 2,000 pg/mL (P <.01). The median amni otic fluid cytokine levels and the pregnancy outcomes were similar for patients with positive amniotic fluid cultures and those with negativ e cultures and positive rDNA PCR assays, The association between amnio tic fluid infection and premature labor may be underestimated on the b asis of amniotic fluid culture results. The broad-spectrum bacterial 1 6S rDNA PCR assay may prove useful for diagnosing amniotic fluid infec tion.