Meconium-Stained Amniotic Fluid as an Independent Risk Factor for Fever and Postpartum Infection in Term Pregnancy

• Main Authors: M Valadan, N Salehi, Sh Niromansh, F Davari Tanha, F Rahimi Sharbaf, N Niromand, M Ghafarnejad
• Format: Article
• Language: fas
• Published: Tehran University of Medical Sciences 2008-06-01
• Series: Tehran University Medical Journal
• Subjects: Meconium; Post Partum; Endometritis; Cesarean Section; Amniotic Fluid; Fever; Infection
• Online Access: http://journals.tums.ac.ir/PdfMed.aspx?pdf_med=/upload_files/pdf/8439.pdf&manuscript_id=8439

Background: The aim of this study was to statistically evaluate the hypothesis that the presence of meconium-stained amniotic fluid is associated with postpartum maternal infection.Methods: This prospective cohort study included 573 term pregnant women in labor, with no other medical problems, that underwent cesarean section for pregnancy termination. Women with prolonged active-phase labor, prolonged rupture of membranes, complicated cesarean section and pre-operative infections were excluded from this study.The subjects were divided into two groups: 280 women with meconium-stained amniotic fluid (M group), and 293 women with clear amniotic fluid (C group). A comparison was done regarding postpartum fever, endometritis and wound infection between the two groups. Students t-test and chi square test were used for data analysis, along with linear regression, with p<0.05 indicating significance.Results: Among the 573 women, a total of 82 women (14%) had fever after cesarean; 42 women from the M group, and 40 women from the C group (p= 0.3). Among the 82 women who had fever, 33 women had continuous fever, 6.5% in group M and 2.7% in group C (p<0.05, RR: 1.98, 95% CI 1.3-3.1). Among the 573 women, 4% developed endometritis 5% in group M and 2% in group C (p<0.05, RR: 2.3, 95%, CI 1.3-3.4). Similarly, among the 573 women, a total of 5 women (1%) developed wound infection, 1.7% in group M and 0.68% in group C (p=0.7).Conclusion: Meconium-stained amniotic fluid is associated with increased postpartum infection independent of other risk factors for infection.