Amniotic cavity cultures, blood cultures, and surface swabs in preterm infants--useful tools for the management of early-onset sepsis?

Aims: To evaluate the potential benefit of amniotic fluid and amniotic/placental membrane cultures for the management of early-onset sepsis in preterm infants. Methods: The results of amniotic cavity cultures obtained during cesarean section and of peripheral blood cultures and surface swabs obtained from the preterm infant at the time of admission were analyzed with respect to the diagnosis of clinical sepsis in 221 preterm infants