INTRAUTERINE INFECTION

Abstract

Summary : Infection is an important cause of perinatal death in Iran. It can occur in the antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum periods. Infection call reach the foetus by the following routes: 1- Hematogen, ous spread via maternal blood 2- Ascending amniotic infection 3transdecidual spread 4- Via fallopian tubes, The two promier' namely, hematogenous and ascending amniotic arc the more common and, from a practical point of view, the most important. The hematogenous route provides a way in which all microorganisms, namely viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa, can infect the foetus throughout the whole pregnancy period. Ascending amniotic infoction is more common and occurs usually during labour. In this vaginal bacteria reach the arnmiotic cavity directly via the cervical canal. This occurs mostly in labour which has lasted more than l2 hours even when the membranes are still intact or when the membranes have been ruptured for more than 9 hour