Faculty of Health Sciences
School of Medicine
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
The use of 16SrDNA to identify intra-amniotic infection
South Africa has a high rate of unexplained stillbirths. Several studies have shown that this is related in many cases to subclinical amniotic fluid infection syndrome. Most of the tests to diagnose this condition are not very sensitive. 2 Areas need futher research, 1st, to further elucidate the relationship between intra-amniotic fluid infection and preterm labour and still birth and 2nd, to find good dignostic tools. PCR for 16SrDNA is a niw tool which has a very high sensitivity for identifying the presence of bacteria in biological specimens. The 1st study in this area is thus to determine using this new tool, what is the rate of intra-amniotic infection in patients with unexplained stillbirth.
|
