Outcome of neonates born to mothers with premature rupture of membranes

Premature rupture of membranes (PROM) is a syndrome characterized by rupture of the fetal membranes before labour. Acute chorioamnionitis complicates 0.5% - 10% of all pregnancies but the incidence may be as high as 3-25% in pregnancies complicated by PROM of more than 24 hours duration. Intrauterine infection specially chorioamnionitis is one of the most serious problems found by the practicing Obstetrician and subsequently by the Pediatrician. The incidence of neonatal infection for infants born to women with PROM range from 1 – 2.6%. To know the incidence, clinical course, outcome of early onset sepsis following PROM more than 18 hours. Materials & Methods: This is a prospective study conducted from December 2018 to September 2020 in SCB Medical College and Hospital and SVPPGIP Cuttack. All neonates born to healthy mothers with PROM more than 18 hours during their hospital stay were studied. 53.3% of the cases had Premature rupture of membranes of 18-24 hours duration,38.3% cases had Premature rupture of membranes of 24 to 72 hour and 8.4 % cases had Premature rupture of membranes of more than 72 hr. RDS was the most common clinical manifestation (37.5%) followed by septicemia (10%), meningitis (1.7%) and pneumonia 1.7%. Most common organisms isolated in blood culture were Staphylococcus followed by Klebsiella, E. coli, Pseudomonas. The incidence of neonatal infection in neonates born to mothers with PROM was 10%. Premature rupture of membranes is responsible for increased perinatal morbidity among preterm neonates & directly proportional to duration of PROM.