Some bacteria may be the cause of preterm labor or fetal death

Even with the advancement in technology in terms of healthcare today, the rate of preterm labor and fetal injuries are still high even in those countries with an advanced healthcare system.

New studies at many hospitals are working to determine which bacteria are the primary causes of these complications.

Some studies have shown the cause to be lack of appropriate responses in the fetus to deal with the new types of bacteria.

Most of the cases of preterm labor and fetal complications are due to certain bacteria which have been found to colonize in the placenta of pregnant women. The rates are so high, in fact, that nearly half a million of pregnant women are likely to have preterm birth or labor. These cases are usually attributed to the inability of the fetus or newborn to provide an appropriate inflammatory response to the harmful colonization of bacteria found in the placenta.

There are several causes that can be attributed to preterm labor, however the most common and the one with the highest prevalence is the onset of neonatal infection.

Research shows that placentas which acquire or have been detected to have microorganisms are those placentas which have been delivered right before the second trimester. There are also studies that prove that more than 40 percent of Caesarian deliveries were also found to have acquired these harmful microorganisms.

Pregnant women who suffer or who acquire any type of intrauterine infections are likely to have neonates suffer from systemic infection as well. Placental colonization as well as microorganisms in the vagina can be a harmful combination to any neonate.

So far, the way to prevent the devastating effects of preterm labor or fetal injury to neonates who have inquired neonatal infection, is by means of taking in specific drugs or probiotics that act on the specific bacteria causing the infection.