Neonatal Gonococcal Infection

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Abstract
Neisseria gonorrhoeaewas isolated from the orogastric aspirates (OGA) of 14 neonates in Seattle, including nine born at the University of Washington Hospital over a four-year period. Prematurity, prolonged rupture of the fetal membranes, associated maternal peripartum fever, histologic evidence of chorioamnionitis, OGA leukocytosis, and a clinical diagnosis of sepsis were more frequent among the infants whose OGA contained gonococci than among 153 infants whose OGA showed no pathogenic bacteria. Mothers whose peripartum endocervical, endometrial, or placental specimens containedN gonorrhoeaehad an increased frequency of premature delivery and prolonged rupture of membranes. Gonococcal infection may have an adverse effect on the course of pregnancy, with resultant maternal and infant morbidity. Gonococcal amniotic-orogastric contamination is probably the most common form of neonatal colonization byN gonorrhoeaeat the present time.

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