Maternal and Perinatal Outcome in Women With History of Premature Labor in Previous Pregnancy and Submitted to Active Search of Genital Infection

Introduction: Preterm labor (PTL) is an important obstetric intercurrence that affects 5 to 10% of pregnancies. Among the known factors of PTL etiology are PTL occurrence in previous pregnancies, multiple pregnancies, polyhydramnios, vaginal bleeding during pregnancy, premature membrane rupture (PMR) and bacterial vaginosis. Despite the advancement achieved in Neonatology, morbidity and mortality resulting from high rates of preterm births have remained constant in the last few decades. Objective: This study aims at evaluating maternal and perinatal outcomes of pregnant women with a history of preterm labor in previous pregnancies and submitted to active search for vaginal infection. Material and Method: It is a prospective-cohort epidemiological study to be conducted in Botucatu/SP. Two study groups (G1 and G2) will be formed, and each of them will comprise 140 pregnant women with a history of preterm childbirth. G1 will be related to the active search and etiological diagnosis of lower genital tract infections, and G2 will be related to non-search for such infections, for which the routine care protocol of primary health units in the city of Botucatu will be maintained. Care propedeutics for the pregnant women (G1) will include the performance of direct examination of vaginal content stained by the Gram method, culture in Diamonds medium, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of endocervical secretion collected in the primary health care services in the city at two moments: prior to the 20th gestational week (M1) and at the 36th week (M2). Moment M3 will take place after childbirth for evaluation of the perinatal outcome.