Identification of a novel Escherichia coli gene whose expression is dependent on the flagellum-specific sigma factor, FliA, but dispensable for motility development

We tried to identify a correlation between bacterial vaginosis and PROM with the aim of proposing a future screening for pregnant women at risk for premature rupture of membranes. We made two vaginal bacteriological tests on women pregnant at 24th and 34th week, and we repeated the same test when it proved positive for infection after therapy. We did 375 tests and our study group was composed of 249 pregnant women, aged between 24 and 35. We also evaluated some variable factors as ultrasonographic gestational age redetermination, number pregnancies of oral contraceptives or IUD use, presence of risk factors presence (recurrent abortion, previous PROM, glucose metabolism alteration, immunosuppression, condylomatosis). 171 tests proved positive (total positivity percentage: 47.2%). The most common micro-organism was Ureaplasma urealyticum (49.1%) that was related to PROM in 66.7%. This result contracts with affirmations of some England authors who think that Ureaplasma hasn't an important role in PROM. This fact, if related to the other data we obtained with our study, actually current, shows a strict correlation between PROM and bacterial vaginosis, but also a different distribution of vaginal infections in our country in comparison with English countries.