IS SCREENING FOR GENITAL INFECTIONS IN PREGNANCY NECESSARY

In recent decades, cervical screening for gonorrhea has been an integr al part of antenatal care. Today, in most countries in the ''western w orld'', other microorganisms commonly found in the vagina are importan t causes of premature labor and are associated with perinatal and puer peral infections. These include Chlamydia trachomatis, Group B strepto cocci. herpes simplex virus, genital mycoplasmas and bacterial vaginos is. This paper discusses current strategies to prevent complications o f these infections in pregnancy and at birth.