Korean J Perinatol.  2005 Jun;16(2):164-170.

Management of Newborns of Mothers with the Premature Rupture of Membranes

• Cho YK
• Lim HK
• Kim SH
• Park CH
• Choi YY

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
This clinical study was carried out to evaluate the effect of premature rupture of the membranes (PROM) on neonatal sepsis in infants who were delivered more than 35 weeks of gestational age (GA).
METHODS
Clinical data were collected from 125 newborns of mothers with PROM who were delivered more than 35 weeks of GA at Chonnam National University Hospital during the five-year period from January 1998 to December 2002.
RESULTS
The incidence of PROM was 15.4% with little yearly variations and PROM in which GA more than 35 weeks was 3.5%. The incidence of positive C-reactive protein (CRP), neonatal fever and neonatal sepsis were not increased but the neonatal use of antibiotics was increased in relation to the duration of the PROM. In the patients with neonatal sepsis, positive CRP rate and incidence of neonatal and maternal fever were significantly high, and use of maternal antibiotics was significantly low.
CONCLUSION
When the newborns of mothers with PROM were delivered more than 35 weeks of GA, maternal history of fever or antibiotic treatment and neonatal history of fever, blood culture and CRP should be checked regardless of duration of PROM, and then begin to start antibiotics according to the baby's clinical signs and symptoms.

Keyword

Premature rupture of membranes; Neonatal sepsis; C-reactive protein

MeSH Terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents
C-Reactive Protein
Fever
Gestational Age
Humans
Incidence
Infant
Infant, Newborn*
Jeollanam-do
Membranes*
Mothers*
Rupture*
Sepsis
Anti-Bacterial Agents
C-Reactive Protein