PYOSPERMIA AND PRETERM, PRELABOR, RUPTURE OF MEMBRANES

Objectives. To investigate the possible association between presence o f clinically unrecognized, specific genito-urinary tract microorganism s in men and preterm, prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM) in their s pouses. Study design. Case control study. Eleven couples with PPROM we re enrolled in the case group and 18 couples with normal pregnancies i n the control group. For each man, samples of urine and semen were col lected and a urethra swab was obtained. Microbiological assessment inc luded, for each woman, cultures from vagina/cervix, urine and placenta . A smear from the vagina was obtained. Results. In the case group, py ospermia was found in three men. Tao of these men, as well as their sp ouses, were Chlamydia trachomatis positive, and in the third man no mi croorganisms could be detected. None of the controls had pyospermia (p =0.045). Among the eight cases without pyospermia one man and one woma n with Chlamydia trachomatis was found, but their spouses were negativ e, In the control group, no Chlamydia trachomatis was detected (p=0.01 4). Among the women two cases and one control had positive culture of Group B streptococci (NS).Conclusion. We suggest that the genital micr oflora of the man is associated with PPROM.