Effect of intrapartum artificial rupture of membrane on maternal and infant outcomes among pregnant women infected with group B streptococcus

ABSTRACT

Objective:

To investigate the effect of intrapartum artificial rupture of the membrane on maternal and infant outcomes among pregnant women infected with group B streptococcus (GBS).

A total of 468 women with a singleton pregnancy who had a GBS infection were included in this case-control study. The enrolled women were divided into an artificial membrane rupture group ( n = 155) and a natural membrane rupture group ( n = 313) according to different methods of membrane rupture. Women in the artificial rupture of membrane group received antibiotic treatment after delivery or before membrane rupture, and the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes was compared between the two groups.

The incidences of chorioamnionitis, puerperal infection, and postpartum hemorrhage in the artificial membrane rupture group were 1.29% (2/155), 6.45% (10/155), and 4.52% (7/155), respectively, while those in the natural membrane rupture group were 1.92% (6/313), 3.83% (12/313), and 1.92% (6/313), respectively. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of incidence of chorioamnionitis, puerperal infection, or postpartum hemorrhage between the two groups ( χ2 = 0.01, 1.58, 1.72, all P > 0.05). The incidences of neonatal sepsis, neonatal asphyxia, neonatal GBS infection, and neonatal pneumonia in the artificial membrane rupture group were 0, 1.29% (2/155), 9.68% (15/155), and 0.65% (1/155), respectively, while those in the natural membrane rupture group were 1.60% (5/313), 0.64% (2/313), 11.82% (37/313), and 1.60% (5/313), respectively. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of neonatal sepsis, neonatal asphyxia, neonatal GBS infection, and neonatal pneumonia ( χ2 = 1.22, 0.03, 0.48, 0.18 both P > 0.05).

Under the premise of effective antibiotic treatment, artificial rupture of membranes for pregnant women infected with GBS does not increase the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Artificial rupture of membranes technology can be used as an effective supplement to natural rupture of membranes.