12: Alterations in the placental microbiome among spontaneous preterm births

Midtrimester microbial DNA variations in maternal serum of women who experience spontaneous preterm birth

“…These techniques have not only been utilized to better describe the complex flora of the cervix/vagina in pregnancy but also to establish that tissues such as the placenta and amniotic fluid have a microbiome, and thus are not sterile. [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] Furthermore, many of these studies have shown that there are alterations in these microbiomes in women who deliver preterm as compared to term -with many of these alterations detectable as early as 15 weeks of gestation. [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] Currently, measuring the cervical length by transvaginal ultrasound is the best available screening modality during pregnancy to detect women at risk for SPTB; however, its performance as a screening test is of limited utility, highlighting the need for better screening tools.…”

“…[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] Furthermore, many of these studies have shown that there are alterations in these microbiomes in women who deliver preterm as compared to term -with many of these alterations detectable as early as 15 weeks of gestation. [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] Currently, measuring the cervical length by transvaginal ultrasound is the best available screening modality during pregnancy to detect women at risk for SPTB; however, its performance as a screening test is of limited utility, highlighting the need for better screening tools. 23 Maternal blood is routinely sampled during pregnancy for prenatal laboratory evaluation and represents an easily obtained tissue that could be used for screening purposes with no increase in discomfort over current standard prenatal laboratory testing.…”