[Premature rupture of fetal membranes, risk of infection and infant prognosis--a comparison of 2 regions]. / Der vorzeitige Blasensprung, das Infektionsrisiko und die kindliche Prognose--Zwei Regionen im Vergleich.

ABSTRACT

The question to be answered was Does premature rupture of membranes (PROM) and duration of PROM lead to increased mortality, neonatal and late morbidity and adverse cognitive developmental outcome? We present data of a bi-national cohort observation study in South Bavaria (SBy) and South Finland (SF). The sample included all children, who were admitted to a children's hospital (SBy N 7505/70,600 live births; SF N 1536/15,618), and some not transferred control infants (916 and 658, respectively). Obstetric details like PROM were obtained from perinatal records. Mortality and neonatal morbidity were recorded prospectively. Somatic, neurological and cognitive development was assessed at five and 20 months (corrected age), and final diagnosis of cerebral palsy (CP) and severe mental retardation was made at 56 months of age. Data were analysed separately for three gestational groups (< 32 (I), 32-36 (II), and > 36 weeks PMA (III)). PROM occurred more frequent in SBy than in SF and in both areas with preterm delivery. PROM irrespective of its duration had no adverse effect on mortality, morbidity, CP-rate or cognitive outcome of groups I and III in either SBy or SF. There was even a slightly lower mortality rate in extremely preterm infants after PROM. In SBy only, group II with PROM > 24 hours had a slightly increased incidence of CP. Unfavorable outcome was closely related to perinatal infections, which increased with duration of PROM. PROM and/or preterm labor occurred more often without than with inflammations of amnion and placenta. We conclude PROM per se has no adverse effects on longterm outcome of special care infants, but it is closely associated with the developmental risk factors perinatal infections and, in particular, preterm birth. The prevention of ascending infections deserves further investigation, although such action may be beneficial lately to only a minority of individuals.