| Abstract: | Fecal cultures from five thousand four hundred and twenty-seven pregnant women, who were delivered at Osaka National Hospital from January 1, 1980 to December 31, 1984, were examined to detect intestinal Campylobacter and Salmonella during 30 and 36 gestational weeks. In addition, the feces of newborn infants were cultured three days after delivery to check for the presence of Campylobacter and Salmonella. During pregnancy, Campylobacter was detected in the feces of 116 women (2.14%), and Salmonella in 99 cases (1.82%). By administering antibiotics to the affected cases, the number of women whose fecal cultures were positive for Campylobacter and Salmonella at the time of delivery was reduced to 8 and 15, respectively. Neonatal fecal cultures revealed that Salmonella infection occurred in two among fifteen (13.33%) and Campylobacter infection in three among eleven (27.27%) infants whose mothers had been affected. These findings suggest the importance of adequate management for these bacterial infections during pregnancy and the perinatal period to prevent danger to the newborn. |
