As part of our management protocol for preterm premature rupture of membranes, ceftizoxime and tocolysis were used to prolong the latent period and prevent or treat concomitant infection. Ceftizoxime was selected for this protocol based on its physiochemical properties, which favor placental transfer of the drug. Patients achieving steady-state pharmacodynamics (more than three doses of the drug) were considered eligible for study. Ceftizoxime levels were determined by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography. All levels measured after the first hour of treatment were indicative of the relative concentration of ceftizoxime in the fetal and amniotic fluid compartments when compared with the maternal compartment. Mean (±SEM) ceftizoxime levels were 11.96 + 2.35 μg/ml in maternal serum, 24.54 ± 4.78 μg/ml in cord serum, and 43.45 ± 4.97 μg/ml in amniotic fluid. Based on its broad antibacterial activity and its high concentration in fetal blood and amniotic fluid, ceftizoxime appears to be an ideal agent for treatment of the intrauterine environment.

Orientador: Lígia Maria S. S. Rugolo / Banca: Cleide Enoir Petean Trindade / Banca: José Carlos Peraçoli / Banca: Maria Fernanda Branco de Almeida / Banca: Lilian dos Santos Rodrigues Sadeck / Resumo: A rotura prematura de membranas pré-termo (RPM-PT) é uma das principais causas de morbimortalidade perinatal e fator de risco para infecção neonatal precoce. As citocinas pró-inflamatórias TNF-α, IL-8 e a antiiflamatória IL-10 são importantes mediadores da resposta imune, e na situação de risco infeccioso podem ser adjuvantes úteis no diagnóstico de infecção neonatal. Investigar se os níveis de TNF-α, IL-8 e IL-10 em sangue de cordão umbilical são marcadores de infecção precoce em prematuros advindos de gestações com RPM-PT. Estudo clínico, prospectivo e do tipo teste diagnóstico, realizado no Serviço de Obstetrícia e Neonatologia da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, envolvendo prematuros de gestantes com rotura de membranas ≥ 12 horas. As citocinas TNF-α, IL-8 e IL-10 foram dosadas em sangue de cordão umbilical pelo método ELISA. Conforme a evolução clínica e laboratorial dos recém-nascidos foram constituídos dois grupos: Infectado e Não infectado, os quais foram comparados quanto às variáveis perinatais e neonatais por análise estatística univariada; com significância em 5%. A acurácia do teste diagnóstico foi obtida pela curva ROC, sendo calculados: sensibilidade, especificidade, valor preditivo positivo (VPP) e negativo (VPN). Foram estudados 55 prematuros: 27 infectados e 28 não infectados. O tempo de rotura não diferiu entre os grupos (54 x 29 hs; p=0,102) mas, no grupo infectado corioamnionite clínica e histológica foi mais frequente; a idade gestacional (31 x 33 semanas; p<0,001) e o peso de nascimento (1707 x 2109g; p=0,003) foram menores; a morbidade foi maior desde o nascimento com necessidade de assistência mais intensiva e o óbito ocorreu somente nesse grupo. As medianas de TNF-α (3.67 vs 1.76 pg/ml; p =0.084) e IL-10 (0 vs 4.10 pg/ml; p=0.291)... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) is one of the major causes of perinatal morbidity and mortality, and an important risk factor for early-onset neonatal infection. The pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-8 and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 are mediators of immune response and may be helpful as early indicator of neonatal infection in the presence of perinatal risk factor. To evaluate umbilical cord blood levels of TNF-α, IL-8 and IL-10 as markers for early-onset infections in premature infants from pregnancies complicated by PPROM. Clinical, prospective and diagnostic test study performed at Obstetrician and Neonatal Unit of Botucatu School of Medicine, enrolling premature infants from pregnant women with ≥ 12 hours of premature rupture of membranes. TNF-α, IL-8 and IL-10 cytokines were measured in umbilical cord blood by ELISA. According to clinical and laboratorial evaluation patients were classified into two groups: infected and noninfected. Perinatal and neonatal variables were studied. Comparisons between groups were performed by univariate statistical analysis; significance at p <0.05. The diagnostic test accuracy was obtained by ROC curve. Sensibility, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated by comparing infected with noninfected group. 55 premature infants were studied: 27 infected and 28 noninfected. There was no difference between the groups in the latency period (54 x 29 hours; p=0,102). In the infected group, clinical and histological chorioamnionitis were more frequent, gestational age (31 x 33 weeks; p<0,001) and birth weight(1707 x 2109g; p=0,003) were lower. Morbidity, mortality and resource use were higher among infected premature infants. The median levels of TNF-α (3.67 vs 1.76 pg/ml; p=0.084)... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

The vaginal microbial community is critical to a woman’s health and the health of her family. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a polymicrobial syndrome characterized by a shift of the vaginal microbiota from a Lactobacillus dominated community to a dense biofilm containing a complex mixture of organisms. Although BV is an important risk factor for poor reproductive health outcomes, the etiology of BV is poorly understood. Gardnerella vaginalis is a hallmark species of BV. Phylogenetic analysis of cpn60 universal target sequences from metagenomic studies of the vaginal microbiome and from G. vaginalis isolates resolved four subgroups within the species. This subdivision, supported by whole genome similarity comparisons, demonstrated that these subgroups might represent different species. Among a group of African women, only G. vaginalis subgroup B was significantly more abundant in women with BV relative to women with Nugent scores not consistent with BV. To characterize the subgroups further, several phenotypic and molecular factors of G. vaginalis subgroups were assessed. Proteomic profiles of isolates within each subgroup formed unambiguous clusters. Sialidase gene sequences were detected in all subgroups, however enzymatic activity was detected only in subgroup B. Two isolates of subgroup B isolates (N153 and N101) were incapable of growth in 7% CO2. Given the well-known relationship between an anaerobic microbiota and BV, anaerobic isolates of G. vaginalis are potentially important players in the vaginal microbial community. To determine genome content differences that could account for the phenotypic difference, whole genome sequences of four G. vaginalis subgroup B isolates representing facultative and anaerobic phenotypes were determined. Comparison of genomes led to the identification of genes predicted to encode proteins involved in cell wall biogenesis and protection from oxidative damage that might account for the observed phenotypes. The cpn60 universal target based methodology that improved resolution of the vaginal microbiota including G. vaginalis was applied in a prospective study of the vaginal microbiome of women with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). The objectives were to characterize the vaginal microbiota of women following PPROM, and to determine if microbiome composition at the time of rupture predicts latency duration and perinatal outcomes. Only 13/70 samples collected from 36 women were dominated by Lactobacillus spp., the expected profile for healthy women, while Megasphaera type 1 and Prevotella spp. were detected in all samples. Microbiome profiles at the time of membrane rupture did not cluster by gestational age at PPROM, or latency duration. Microbial profiles were unstable over the latency period, with dramatic shifts in composition between weekly samples, and an overall decrease in Lactobacillus abundance. Mollicutes were detected by PCR in 81% (29/36) of women, and these women had significantly lower gestational age at delivery and correspondingly lower birth weight infants than Mollicutes negative women. Taken together, the results presented in this thesis demonstrate the value of high resolution profiling of the vaginal microbiome using cpn60 UT sequences. The resolution of subgroups within G. vaginalis has potentially significant implications for women's health diagnostics, requiring a shift away from considering G. vaginalis as a single entity. The PPROM study provides foundational information that may lead to the identification of informative sequence patterns, providing clinicians with better tools for expectant management following PPROM.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:33:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2008-08-01Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:26:38Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 hashimoto_m_dr_botfm.pdf: 298656 bytes, checksum: 13b4b2d4d265946e9f647fb2dd27e0e4 (MD5) / A rotura prematura de membranas pré-termo (RPM-PT) é uma das principais causas de morbimortalidade perinatal e fator de risco para infecção neonatal precoce. As citocinas pró-inflamatórias TNF-α, IL-8 e a antiiflamatória IL-10 são importantes mediadores da resposta imune, e na situação de risco infeccioso podem ser adjuvantes úteis no diagnóstico de infecção neonatal. Investigar se os níveis de TNF-α, IL-8 e IL-10 em sangue de cordão umbilical são marcadores de infecção precoce em prematuros advindos de gestações com RPM-PT. Estudo clínico, prospectivo e do tipo teste diagnóstico, realizado no Serviço de Obstetrícia e Neonatologia da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, envolvendo prematuros de gestantes com rotura de membranas ≥ 12 horas. As citocinas TNF-α, IL-8 e IL-10 foram dosadas em sangue de cordão umbilical pelo método ELISA. Conforme a evolução clínica e laboratorial dos recém-nascidos foram constituídos dois grupos: Infectado e Não infectado, os quais foram comparados quanto às variáveis perinatais e neonatais por análise estatística univariada; com significância em 5%. A acurácia do teste diagnóstico foi obtida pela curva ROC, sendo calculados: sensibilidade, especificidade, valor preditivo positivo (VPP) e negativo (VPN). Foram estudados 55 prematuros: 27 infectados e 28 não infectados. O tempo de rotura não diferiu entre os grupos (54 x 29 hs; p=0,102) mas, no grupo infectado corioamnionite clínica e histológica foi mais frequente; a idade gestacional (31 x 33 semanas; p<0,001) e o peso de nascimento (1707 x 2109g; p=0,003) foram menores; a morbidade foi maior desde o nascimento com necessidade de assistência mais intensiva e o óbito ocorreu somente nesse grupo. As medianas de TNF-α (3.67 vs 1.76 pg/ml; p =0.084) e IL-10 (0 vs 4.10 pg/ml; p=0.291)... / Preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) is one of the major causes of perinatal morbidity and mortality, and an important risk factor for early-onset neonatal infection. The pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-8 and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 are mediators of immune response and may be helpful as early indicator of neonatal infection in the presence of perinatal risk factor. To evaluate umbilical cord blood levels of TNF-α, IL-8 and IL-10 as markers for early-onset infections in premature infants from pregnancies complicated by PPROM. Clinical, prospective and diagnostic test study performed at Obstetrician and Neonatal Unit of Botucatu School of Medicine, enrolling premature infants from pregnant women with ≥ 12 hours of premature rupture of membranes. TNF-α, IL-8 and IL-10 cytokines were measured in umbilical cord blood by ELISA. According to clinical and laboratorial evaluation patients were classified into two groups: infected and noninfected. Perinatal and neonatal variables were studied. Comparisons between groups were performed by univariate statistical analysis; significance at p <0.05. The diagnostic test accuracy was obtained by ROC curve. Sensibility, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated by comparing infected with noninfected group. 55 premature infants were studied: 27 infected and 28 noninfected. There was no difference between the groups in the latency period (54 x 29 hours; p=0,102). In the infected group, clinical and histological chorioamnionitis were more frequent, gestational age (31 x 33 weeks; p<0,001) and birth weight(1707 x 2109g; p=0,003) were lower. Morbidity, mortality and resource use were higher among infected premature infants. The median levels of TNF-α (3.67 vs 1.76 pg/ml; p=0.084)... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Abstract available through the Developmental Psychobiology.

Common, complex disorders are polygenic and multifactorial traits representing interactions between environmental, genetic and epigenetic risk factors. More often than not, contributions of these risk factors have been studied individually and this is especially true for complex reproductive traits where application of genomic technologies has been challenging and slow to progress. This thesis explores the potential of genetic and epigenetic components contributing to a better understanding of the biological pathways underlying disease risk in two specific female complex reproductive traits - polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). The PCOS projects focus on characterization of a gene, DENND1A, whose association to PCOS has been established by Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) and is known to contribute to PCOS steroidogenic phenotype. In addition, differential microRNAs expression contributing to DENND1A expression regulation in PCOS theca cells was identified. The studies on PPROM utilize a Whole Exome Sequencing approach to identify rare variants in fetal genes contributing to extracellular matrix composition and synthesis contributing to PPROM risk. The results suggest that fetal contribution to PPROM is polygenic and is driven by a significant genetic burden of potentially damaging rare variants in genes contributing to fetal membrane strength and integrity. Tissue and location specific expression patterns of the Chromosome 21 miRNA cluster (miR-99a, miR-125b, let-7c) in fetal membranes from term pregnancies with spontaneous rupture were investigated. The results suggest that these miRNAs play potential roles in fetal membrane rupture and fetal membrane defects associated with T21.

Die nicht-invasive Analyse der fetalen Herzratenvariabilität mittels abdominaler Elektrokardiographie stellt eine neue Methode zur Beurteilung des fetalen Zustandes dar. Die Herzratenvariabilität gilt hier als ein sensitives Maß der autonomen Regulation. Bereits mit Beginn der zweiten Schwangerschaftshälfte ist es möglich, über das mütterliche Abdomen ein fetales Elektrokardiogramm abzuleiten und einer Herzratenvariabilitätsanalyse zuzuführen. Das Untersuchungskollektiv dieser Arbeit umfasste Frauen mit frühem vorzeitigem Blasensprung als Modell einer pathologischen Alteration des fetalen Zustandes sowie Frauen mit normalen Schwangerschaften zwischen der 20. und 28. Schwangerschaftswoche. Die technische Umsetzung und Analyse der fetalen Herzratenvariabilität erfolgte in Kooperation mit dem Institut für Biomedizinische Technik der TU Dresden. Insgesamt wurden 25 Datensätze der Auswertung zugeführt. Eine Reifung des autonomen Nervensystems des Feten mit ansteigendem Gestationsalter konnte mittels der Herzratenvariabilitätsanalyse gezeigt werden. Zur Risikostratifizierung der Feten bei frühem vorzeitigem Blasensprung konnten bei der Betrachtung der Herzratenvariabilitätsparameter keine signifikanten Unterschiede zum Normalkollektiv erhoben werden. Die Analyse der Parameter erfolgte hierbei unabhängig von den fetalen Verhaltenszuständen. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass die nicht-invasive Analyse der Herzratenvariabilitätsanalyse methodisch und technisch in der Lage ist, den Fetalzustand und dessen Alterationen zu erfassen.

OBJECTIVE: to study the preditivity of PAMG-1 test for patients with suspected premature rupture of membranes (PROM). METHODS: fifty patients with suspected PROM were selected and allocated them into two groups (25 with PROM and 25 without PROM). All patients were subjected to the PAMG-1 test. The preditivity of PAMG-1 test was evaluated for the time between the exam and birth and days in hospital after delivery. For statistical analysis we used the t test, Mann-Whitney and chi-square. A level of 5% of significance was accepted (p<0,05). RESULTS: the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for the PAMG-1 test were 92%. The rates of false positive and false negative were 8%. The accuracy of the test was found to be 92%. The time between the exam and birth was 29h for patients with positive test and 287,8h for patients with negative test (p=0,0001) and maternal hospitalization was 29h and 130h, respectively (p=0,001). CONCLUSIONS: the PAMG-1 test has high preditivity in suspected cases of premature rupture of amniotic membranes, with low rates of false positive and false negative test results. Moreover, it can reduce the time of maternal hospital stay or avoid maternal hospitalization and thereby reduce public health expenditures. / OBJETIVO: estudar a preditividade diagnóstica do teste da PAMG-1 para pacientes com suspeita de ruptura prematura das membranas amnióticas (RUPREME). MÉTODOS: foram selecionadas consecutivamente 50 pacientes com suspeita de RUPREME e alocadas em dois grupos (25 com RUPREME confirmada pelo exame clínico e 25 com RUPREME descartada pelo exame clínico). Todas as pacientes foram submetidas ao teste da PAMG-1. Foram avaliadas a preditividade do teste da PAMG-1, tempo entre a realização do exame e nascimento e tempo de internação materna. Para a análise estatística foi utilizado o teste t de Student, Mann-Whitney e qui-quadrado. O nível de significância admitido foi p<0,05. RESULTADOS: a sensibilidade, especificidade, valores preditivos positivo e negativo para o teste da PAMG-1 foram de 92%. As taxas de falsos positivo e negativo foram de 8%. A acurácia do teste foi 92%. O tempo entre a realização do exame e nascimento foi 29h nas pacientes com teste da PAMG-1 positivo e 287,8h nas pacientes com teste negativo (p=0,0001) e o tempo de internação materna foi 29h e 130h, respectivamente (p=0,001). CONCLUSÕES: o teste da PAMG-1 apresenta elevada preditividade diagnóstica nos casos de suspeita de ruptura prematura de membranas, com baixas taxas de falsos positivo e negativo. Além disso, pode reduzir o tempo ou evitar a hospitalização materna e dessa forma, reduzir gastos com saúde pública.

Orientador: Renato Passini Júnior / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-27T11:47:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Lajos_GiulianeJesus_D.pdf: 13164683 bytes, checksum: 157ab3724e88a3aa83c69cd29bf06c06 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Resumo: Introdução: A prematuridade é um problema complexo de saúde pública, sendo a principal causa de morbidade e mortalidade neonatais, com tendência a aumento nas últimas décadas. Foi proposto um estudo com a participação de vários hospitais do Brasil, a fim de avaliar diversos aspectos envolvidos com a ocorrência do parto pré-termo. Objetivos: descrever os métodos de implementação do Estudo Multicêntrico de Investigação em Prematuridade no Brasil; avaliar a homogeneidade amostral dos casos incluídos; estimar a prevalência e analisar fatores associados à prematuridade espontânea. Métodos: estudo transversal multicêntrico, com componente caso-controle aninhado, em 20 hospitais de referência em três regiões geográficas do Brasil. Foram selecionadas as instituições participantes, elaborado o formulário de coleta de dados, escolhido o sistema eletrônico para inclusão de casos, desenvolvido um programa para a digitação dos dados, elaborados manuais de orientação e padronização da coleta de informações, seguidos de implantação do estudo e análise dos dados obtidos. Foi realizada vigilância prospectiva para identificação de partos pré-termo e estimada sua prevalência, subdividindo-os pelas condições determinantes: trabalho de parto espontâneo, ruptura prematura de membranas e parto terapêutico. Foram estimadas taxas de prevalência ou médias, coeficientes de correlação intraclasse, efeitos do desenho do estudo e média de tamanho de conglomerado para mais de 250 variáveis. O risco de parto pré-termo espontâneo foi estimado com Odds Ratio para vários preditores e a análise por regressão logística não condicional identificou fatores independentemente associados. Resultados: Foram incluídas 5.296 mulheres, sendo 4.150 com partos prematuros (casos) e 1.146 com partos a termo (controles), e avaliados 5.752 recém-nascidos. A taxa geral de prematuridade foi 12,3%. Os coeficientes de correlação intraclasse foram baixos (<0,1) na maioria das variáveis. Comparando 2.682 partos prematuros espontâneos com 1.146 partos a termo, a análise multivariada identificou como fatores de risco para o parto pré-termo: antecedente de parto prematuro, gravidez múltipla, suspeita de insuficiência cervical, malformação fetal, polidrâmnio, sangramento vaginal, número insuficiente de consultas de pré-natal, aborto anterior e infecção do trato urinário. Conclusões: A implantação do Estudo Multicêntrico de Investigação em Prematuridade no Brasil foi a primeira etapa de uma ampla avaliação da prematuridade no país. Os coeficientes de correlação intraclasse indicaram adequada heterogeneidade da amostra estudada. Seus valores poderão ser usados como referência no cálculo de tamanho amostral de estudos futuros na área. A prevalência de partos pré-termo nos centros terciários do Brasil foi alta. Antecedente de parto prematuro, gravidez múltipla, suspeita de insuficiência cervical, malformação fetal, polidrâmnio, sangramento vaginal, número insuficiente de consultas de pré-natal, aborto anterior e infecção do trato urinário foram considerados fatores de risco para parto prematuro espontâneo. A identificação desses fatores pode auxiliar no planejamento de medidas para reduzir a ocorrência de partos pré-termo / Abstract: Background: Preterm birth is the main cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality, resulting in a high likehood of sequelae in surviving children, with a tendency to increase in last decades. A study intending to collect information from hospitals in Brazil on several aspects of preterm birth was proposed. Objectives: To describe the methods used in elaborating and implementing the Brazilian Multicenter Study on Preterm Birth; to evaluate the homogeneity of the sample included in the network; to assess the prevalence of preterm births in Brazil and to identify factors associated with spontaneous preterm birth. Methods: The project consisted of a multicenter cross-sectional study plus a nested case-control study in 20 reference hospitals of three regions of Brazil. The elegible hospitals were selected, forms for data collection were prepared, an electronic system for the inclusion of cases was selected, a program for entering data was developed and the implantation process and data analysis were performed. A prospective surveillance was implemented to identify preterm births, to estimate its prevalence, subdividing into determinats conditions: spontaneous labor, prelabor rupture of membranes or therapeutic birth. Estimated prevalence rates or means, intracluster correlation coefficients, design effects and mean cluster sizes were presented for more than 250 variables. The risk of spontaneous preterm birth was estimated with Odds Ratio for several predictors and a non-conditional logistic regression analysis was then performed to identify independently associated factors. Results: Overall, 5,296 women were included in the study, being 4,150 preterm births (cases) and 1,146 term births (controls), and the total number of studied newborns was 5,752. Overall rate of preterm birth was 12.3%. Intracluster correlation coefficients were low (<0.1) in most variables, showing intracluster heterogeneity. When comparing 2,682 spontaneous preterm births to a sample of 1,146 term births, the multivariate analyzes identified as risk factors for preterm birth: a previous preterm birth, multiple pregnancy, cervical insufficiency, fetal malformation, polyhydramnios, vaginal bleeding, inadequate number of prenatal care visits, previous abortion, and urinary tract infection. Conclusions: The implementation of the Brazilian Multicenter Study on Preterm Birth was the first step of a comprehensive assessment of prematurity in the country. Intracluster correlation coefficients for the outcome variables indicate adequate sample heterogeneity. Their values can be used to calculate the sample size of further studies in the area. The preterm birth rate in tertiary facilities in Brazil was high and the proportion of therapeutic preterm births was over one third. Previous preterm birth, multiple pregnancy, cervical insufficiency, fetal malformation, polyhydramnios, vaginal bleeding, inadequate number of prenatal care visits, previous abortion, and urinary tract infection were considered risk factors to spontaneous preterm birth. Identification of these factors can be worth for planning effective measures to reduce the occurrence of preterm births / Doutorado / Saúde Materna e Perinatal / Doutora em Ciências da Saúde

Orientador: Renato Passini Junior / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-27T10:57:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Pinto_GiulianeJesusLajos_M.pdf: 245675 bytes, checksum: 71fd93a1854439989a54c4faa89da2dc (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005 / Resumo: Objetivo: estudar a colonização bacteriana endocervical em gestantes com trabalho de parto prematuro e/ou ruptura prematura de membranas (termo e pré-termo). Método: 212 gestantes com trabalho de parto prematuro (TPP) e/ou ruptura prematura de membranas (RPM), internadas no Hospital Estadual Sumaré (Unicamp), foram avaliadas no período de julho de 2002 a janeiro de 2004. Na admissão hospitalar foram coletadas duas amostras do conteúdo endocervical, realizadas bacterioscopia e cultura em meios ágar-sangue ou ágar-chocolate. Foram analisadas associações da colonização endocervical com infecção de trato urinário materno, corioamnionite, uso de antibióticos, dados de parto, sofrimento fetal, prematuridade, infecção e óbito neonatais. Resultados: entre as mulheres estudadas, 74 (35%) tinham TPP e 138 (65%), RPM. A prevalência de colonização endocervical foi de 14,2% (IC=9,5%-18,9%), com resultados similares em TPP e RPM. Na população estudada, o microorganismo mais encontrado foi o estreptococo do grupo B (EGB) (9,4%), sendo também isolados Candida sp (5 casos), Streptococcus sp (2 casos), Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli e Enterococcus sp (1 caso de cada). Das bacterioscopias analisadas, os achados mais freqüentes foram baixa prevalência de bacilos de Dodërlein e elevado número de leucócitos. Em mulheres colonizadas houve maior prevalência de infecção de trato urinário (23,8% versus 5,4%; p<0,01), infecção neonatal (25,0% versus 7,3%; p<0,01) e óbito neonatal (dois casos entre as colonizadas; p<0,02), quando comparadas às não-colonizadas. Conclusões: observou-se alta prevalência de colonização endocervical, sem a utilização de meios de cultura seletivos. O EGB foi o principal microorganismo isolado, reforçando a necessidade de triagem deste agente durante a gestação e nas situações de risco estudadas. Um terço das culturas positivas ocorreram por outros agentes. Estudos complementares são necessários para esclarecer a importância destes achados bacteriológicos no canal endocervical e sua associação com complicações gestacionais, sepse e mortalidade neonatais / Abstract: Objective: to study cervical colonization in women with preterm labor and/or premature rupture of membranes. Method: 212 pregnant women with preterm labor and/or premature rupture of membranes (PROM), admitted at Hospital Estadual Sumaré, during the period between July 2002 and January 2004, were studied. Two cervical samples from each woman were collected and bacterioscopy and culture in blood-agar or chocolate-agar plates were performed. Association of cervical microorganisms and urinary infection, chorioamnionitis, antibiotics use, prematurity, neonatal infection and neonatal death were evaluated. Results: the population evaluated consisted of 74 women with preterm labor (35%) and 138 women with PROM (preterm and term). The prevalence of cervical colonization was 14.2% (CI=9.5-18.9%), with similar results in preterm labor or PROM. Group B streptococcus was the most prevalent organism in this population (9.4%). Other organisms isolated were Candida sp, Streptococcus sp, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli and Enterococcus sp. The most common findings of bacterioscopy were a reduced number of lactobacilli and a great number of leukocytes. Endocervical colonization was associated with a higher occurrence of urinary tract infection (23.8% versus 5.4%; p<0.01), early-onset of neonatal infection (25.0% versus 7.3%; p<0.01) and neonatal mortality (2 cases in colonizated women; p<0.02) when compared with a negative culture of endocervical mucus. Conclusions: this study showed high prevalence of endocervical colonization despite of the use of a nonselective culture media. The main microorganism isolated was Group B streptococcus but other organisms were present in one third of studied population. More studies are needed to evaluate the influence of endocervical colonization in obstetrical outcome and in neonatal sepsis and mortality / Mestrado / Tocoginecologia / Mestre em Tocoginecologia