THE EFFECTS OF INTERNAL ELECTRONIC FETAL HEART-RATE MONITORING ON MATERNAL AND INFANT INFECTIONS IN HIGH-RISK PREGNANCIES

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 27  (10) , 661-665
Abstract
A controlled prospective study of the effects of fetal monitoring on mothers and infants was conducted at Denver General Hospital, Denver, Colorado [USA]. A total of 690 high-risk patients in labor were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups; auscultation alone, electronic fetal monitoring and electronic fetal monitoring with the option to obtain a scalp pH sample. Maternal and neonatal infectious morbidity after vaginal or cesarean delivery was unchanged with internal fetal monitoring. Despite frequent antibiotic prophylaxis (95% cesarean section vs. 11% vaginal), cesarean section was the most significant factor associated with increased maternal puerperal infectious morbidity (13.75% cesarean section vs. 3.9% vaginal). Although hours of labor, hours of rupture of membranes, hours of internal catheter, number of exams and presence of meconium were not associated with increased maternal infection, prolonged hours of internal catheter usage > 8 h and prolonged rupture of membranes > 12 h were associated with increased antibiotic usage in the neonate.