Amniotic fluid glucose concentration: A rapid and simple method for the detection of intraamniotic infection in preterm labor

Roberto Romero, Carlos Jimenez, Ajay K. Lohda, Jose Nores, Shuichi Hanaoka, Cecilia Avila, Robert Callahan, Moshe Mazor, John C. Hobbins, Michael P. Diamond

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

175 Scopus citations

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether amniotic fluid glucose concentrations is of value in the rapid diagnosis of intraamniotic infection. Amniocenteses were performed in 168 patients with preterm labor and intact membranes. Amniotic fluid was cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, as well as Mycoplasma species. The prevalence of positive amniotic fluid cultures was 13.6% ( 23 168). Patients with positive amniotic fluid cultures for microorganisms had significantly lower median amniotic fluid glucose concentrations than patients with negative amniotic fluid cultures (median 11 mg/dl, range 2 to 30 mg/dl vs median 28 mg/dl, range 3 to 74, respectively; p < 0.001). Amniotic fluid glucose concentrations below 14 mg/dl had a sensitivity of 86.9% ( 20 23), a specificity of 91.7% ( 133 145), a positive predictive value of 62.5% ( 20 32), and a negative predictive value of 97.8% ( 133 136) in the detection of a positive amniotic fluid culture. Amniotic fluid glucose determination is a rapid, sensitive, inexpensive, and simple test for the detection of intraamniotic infection in women with preterm labor and intact membranes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)968-974
Number of pages7
JournalAmerican journal of obstetrics and gynecology
Volume163
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1990
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Glucose
  • Gram stain
  • amniotic fluid
  • chorioamnionitis
  • intraamniotic infection
  • prematurity
  • preterm labor

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology

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