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Jung E, Romero R, Suksai M, Gotsch F, Chaemsaithong P, Erez O, Conde-Agudelo A, Gomez-Lopez N, Berry SM, Meyyazhagan A, Yoon BH. Clinical chorioamnionitis at term: definition, pathogenesis, microbiology, diagnosis, and treatment. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2024; 230:S807-S840. [PMID: 38233317 PMCID: PMC11288098 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2023.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
Clinical chorioamnionitis, the most common infection-related diagnosis in labor and delivery units, is an antecedent of puerperal infection and neonatal sepsis. The condition is suspected when intrapartum fever is associated with two other maternal and fetal signs of local or systemic inflammation (eg, maternal tachycardia, uterine tenderness, maternal leukocytosis, malodorous vaginal discharge or amniotic fluid, and fetal tachycardia). Clinical chorioamnionitis is a syndrome caused by intraamniotic infection, sterile intraamniotic inflammation (inflammation without bacteria), or systemic maternal inflammation induced by epidural analgesia. In cases of uncertainty, a definitive diagnosis can be made by analyzing amniotic fluid with methods to detect bacteria (Gram stain, culture, or microbial nucleic acid) and inflammation (white blood cell count, glucose concentration, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, matrix metalloproteinase-8). The most common microorganisms are Ureaplasma species, and polymicrobial infections occur in 70% of cases. The fetal attack rate is low, and the rate of positive neonatal blood cultures ranges between 0.2% and 4%. Intrapartum antibiotic administration is the standard treatment to reduce neonatal sepsis. Treatment with ampicillin and gentamicin have been recommended by professional societies, although other antibiotic regimens, eg, cephalosporins, have been used. Given the importance of Ureaplasma species as a cause of intraamniotic infection, consideration needs to be given to the administration of antimicrobial agents effective against these microorganisms such as azithromycin or clarithromycin. We have used the combination of ceftriaxone, clarithromycin, and metronidazole, which has been shown to eradicate intraamniotic infection with microbiologic studies. Routine testing of neonates born to affected mothers for genital mycoplasmas could improve the detection of neonatal sepsis. Clinical chorioamnionitis is associated with decreased uterine activity, failure to progress in labor, and postpartum hemorrhage; however, clinical chorioamnionitis by itself is not an indication for cesarean delivery. Oxytocin is often administered for labor augmentation, and it is prudent to have uterotonic agents at hand to manage postpartum hemorrhage. Infants born to mothers with clinical chorioamnionitis near term are at risk for early-onset neonatal sepsis and for long-term disability such as cerebral palsy. A frontier is the noninvasive assessment of amniotic fluid to diagnose intraamniotic inflammation with a transcervical amniotic fluid collector and a rapid bedside test for IL-8 for patients with ruptured membranes. This approach promises to improve diagnostic accuracy and to provide a basis for antimicrobial administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunjung Jung
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Roberto Romero
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI.
| | - Manaphat Suksai
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand
| | - Francesca Gotsch
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Piya Chaemsaithong
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mahidol University, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Offer Erez
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka University Medical Center, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Agustin Conde-Agudelo
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI; Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
| | - Stanley M Berry
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Arun Meyyazhagan
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI; Centre of Perinatal and Reproductive Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Bo Hyun Yoon
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Bonasoni MP, Comitini G, Pati M, Bardaro M, Russello G, Carretto E, Dalla Dea G, Palicelli A, Bernardelli G, Chesi E, Gargano G. Fulminant Sepsis and Perinatal Death at 23 Weeks Due to Fusobacterium nucleatum. Fetal Pediatr Pathol 2022; 42:456-463. [PMID: 36218233 DOI: 10.1080/15513815.2022.2131487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Fusobacterium nucleatum is a gram-negative anaerobe, a constituent of the oral microflora, responsible for chronic periodontal diseases. Case Report: We describe a preterm infant with premature rupture of membranes at 23 weeks of gestational age due to F. nucleatum. The newborn died soon after birth. Placental histopathology showed severe necrotizing chorioamnionitis and funisitis with gram-negative bacilli. After autopsy, F. nucleatum was microbiologically isolated from the lung. The mother had dental hygiene 1 day before delivery, presenting mild and diffuse gingivitis. At admission, she had leukocytosis, foul-smelling vaginal discharge, but no fever. Conclusion: This case highlights the possibility of F. nucleatum spreading from oral cavity after a dental procedure to the placenta with chorioamnionitis and fetal infection. This raises the question of whether dental procedures during pregnancy should be accompanied by prophylactic antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Giuseppina Comitini
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Mariangela Pati
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Marcellino Bardaro
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Russello
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Edoardo Carretto
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Giulia Dalla Dea
- Pathology Unit, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy.,Pathology Unit, "Maggiore della Carità" Hospital, Novara, Italy
| | - Andrea Palicelli
- Pathology Unit, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | | | - Elena Chesi
- Department of Obstetrics and Pediatrics, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Gargano
- Department of Obstetrics and Pediatrics, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
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Winters AD, Romero R, Graffice E, Gomez-Lopez N, Jung E, Kanninen T, Theis KR. Optimization and validation of two multiplex qPCR assays for the rapid detection of microorganisms commonly invading the amniotic cavity. J Reprod Immunol 2022; 149:103460. [PMID: 34968795 PMCID: PMC8941673 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2021.103460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity (MIAC) leading to infection is strongly associated with adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. Limitations of current diagnostic assays to detect MIAC rapidly and accurately have hindered the ability of obstetricians to identify and treat intra-amniotic infections. We developed, optimized, and validated two multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays for the simultaneous detection and quantification of microbial taxa commonly associated with MIAC. The first assay allows for the quantification of general bacterial and fungal loads in amniotic fluid and includes a human reference gene to allow for assessing the integrity of clinical samples and the DNA extraction process. The second assay allows for the detection and quantification of four specific bacterial taxa commonly associated with MIAC: Ureaplasma spp., Mycoplasma hominis, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Fusobacterium nucleatum. The qPCR assays were validated by using both microbial isolates and clinical amniotic fluid samples. The assays were further validated by comparing qPCR amplification results to those from the microbial culture and bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing of amniotic fluid. Both assays demonstrated high reproducibility and are sensitive and specific to their intended targets. Therefore, these assays represent promising molecular diagnostic tools for the detection of MIAC. Most importantly, these assays may allow for administration of timely and targeted antibiotic interventions to reduce adverse perinatal outcomes attributed to intra-amniotic infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D. Winters
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, Detroit, Michigan, USA., Perinatal Research Initiative in Maternal, Perinatal and Child Health, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA., Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, Detroit, Michigan, USA., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA., Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA., Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA., Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan, USA., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA,Address correspondence to: Roberto Romero, MD, DMedSci, Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Hutzel Women’s Hospital, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 3990 John R Street, 4 Brush, Detroit, MI 48201 USA, Tel (313) 993-2700, , Kevin R. Theis, PhD, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 540 East Canfield, Michigan 48201, USA, Tel (313) 577-0877,
| | - Emma Graffice
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, Detroit, Michigan, USA., Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, Detroit, Michigan, USA., Perinatal Research Initiative in Maternal, Perinatal and Child Health, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA., Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Eunjung Jung
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, Detroit, Michigan, USA., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Tomi Kanninen
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, Detroit, Michigan, USA., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Kevin R. Theis
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, Detroit, Michigan, USA., Perinatal Research Initiative in Maternal, Perinatal and Child Health, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA., Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA.,Address correspondence to: Roberto Romero, MD, DMedSci, Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Hutzel Women’s Hospital, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 3990 John R Street, 4 Brush, Detroit, MI 48201 USA, Tel (313) 993-2700, , Kevin R. Theis, PhD, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 540 East Canfield, Michigan 48201, USA, Tel (313) 577-0877,
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4
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Ye C, Kapila Y. Oral microbiome shifts during pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes: Hormonal and Immunologic changes at play. Periodontol 2000 2021; 87:276-281. [PMID: 34463984 PMCID: PMC8457099 DOI: 10.1111/prd.12386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Because of hormonal and immunologic changes, there are significant changes in the oral microbiome that emerge during pregnancy. Recent evidence further suggests that there is an association between the presence of periodontal disease and a pregnancy‐associated oral dysbiosis. Although this oral dysbiosis and pathogenic periodontal bacteria are considered to be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, it is still not clear how an oral dysbiosis during pregnancy can modulate oral diseases and birth outcomes. To develop preventive or therapeutic interventions, it is critical to understand the oral microbiome changes that emerge during pregnancy and their association with adverse pregnancy outcomes. In the present review, we summarize the current literature on normal changes in the oral microbiome that occur during pregnancy; the pathogenic changes in the oral microbiome believed to occur in association with adverse pregnancy outcomes; and the association between the placental microbiome and the oral microbiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changchang Ye
- Division of Periodontology, Department of Orofacial Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California.,State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yvonne Kapila
- Division of Periodontology, Department of Orofacial Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
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Yu K, Rodriguez M, Paul Z, Gordon E, Gu T, Rice K, Triplett EW, Keller-Wood M, Wood CE. Transfer of oral bacteria to the fetus during late gestation. Sci Rep 2021; 11:708. [PMID: 33436911 PMCID: PMC7804304 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80653-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The fetus develops in a privileged environment, as the placenta serves as both a gateway for nutrients and a barrier for pathogen transfer to the fetus. Regardless, recent evidence suggests the presence of bacterial DNA in both placenta and fetus, and we have reported that DNA and protein from small numbers of bacteria gain access to the fetus from the maternal bloodstream. Other routes of environmental bacterial transfer from the mother to fetus remain unknown, as well as the physiological relevance of their presence. In these experiments, we examine multiple routes by which bacterial cellular components can enter the fetus and the fetal response to influx of bacterial DNA and protein. We inoculated maternal sheep with genetically-labeled S. aureus (Staphylococcus aureus) using three routes: intravenously, orally, and intra-vaginally. The inoculum did not produce sepsis or fever in the ewes, therefore mimicking incidental exposure to bacteria during pregnancy. 3-5 days post inoculation, we assessed the presence of bacterial components in the fetal tissues and analyzed fetal brain tissue to identify any alterations in gene expression. Our results demonstrate that components of bacteria that were introduced into the maternal mouth were detected in the fetal brain and that they stimulated changes in gene expression. We conclude that an oral route of transmission is relevant for transfer of bacterial cellular components to the fetus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Yu
- Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, University of Florida College of Medicine, 1345 Center Drive, Room M552, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Michelle Rodriguez
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Gainesville, USA
| | - Zubin Paul
- Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, University of Florida College of Medicine, 1345 Center Drive, Room M552, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Elizabeth Gordon
- Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, University of Florida College of Medicine, 1345 Center Drive, Room M552, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Tongjun Gu
- Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA
| | - Kelly Rice
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Gainesville, USA
| | - Eric W Triplett
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Gainesville, USA
| | - Maureen Keller-Wood
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, University of Florida College of Pharmacy, Gainesville, USA
| | - Charles E Wood
- Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, University of Florida College of Medicine, 1345 Center Drive, Room M552, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
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Conde-Agudelo A, Romero R, Jung EJ, Garcia Sánchez ÁJ. Management of clinical chorioamnionitis: an evidence-based approach. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2020; 223:848-869. [PMID: 33007269 PMCID: PMC8315154 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2020.09.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
This review aimed to examine the existing evidence about interventions proposed for the treatment of clinical chorioamnionitis, with the goal of developing an evidence-based contemporary approach for the management of this condition. Most trials that assessed the use of antibiotics in clinical chorioamnionitis included patients with a gestational age of ≥34 weeks and in labor. The first-line antimicrobial regimen for the treatment of clinical chorioamnionitis is ampicillin combined with gentamicin, which should be initiated during the intrapartum period. In the event of a cesarean delivery, patients should receive clindamycin at the time of umbilical cord clamping. The administration of additional antibiotic therapy does not appear to be necessary after vaginal or cesarean delivery. However, if postdelivery antibiotics are prescribed, there is support for the administration of an additional dose. Patients can receive antipyretic agents, mainly acetaminophen, even though there is no clear evidence of their benefits. Current evidence suggests that the administration of antenatal corticosteroids for fetal lung maturation and of magnesium sulfate for fetal neuroprotection to patients with clinical chorioamnionitis between 24 0/7 and 33 6/7 weeks of gestation, and possibly between 23 0/7 and 23 6/7 weeks of gestation, has an overall beneficial effect on the infant. However, delivery should not be delayed to complete the full course of corticosteroids and magnesium sulfate. Once the diagnosis of clinical chorioamnionitis has been established, delivery should be considered, regardless of the gestational age. Vaginal delivery is the safer option and cesarean delivery should be reserved for standard obstetrical indications. The time interval between the diagnosis of clinical chorioamnionitis and delivery is not related to most adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Patients may require a higher dose of oxytocin to achieve adequate uterine activity or greater uterine activity to effect a given change in cervical dilation. The benefit of using continuous electronic fetal heart rate monitoring in these patients is unclear. We identified the following promising interventions for the management of clinical chorioamnionitis: (1) an antibiotic regimen including ceftriaxone, clarithromycin, and metronidazole that provides coverage against the most commonly identified microorganisms in patients with clinical chorioamnionitis; (2) vaginal cleansing with antiseptic solutions before cesarean delivery with the aim of decreasing the risk of endometritis and, possibly, postoperative wound infection; and (3) antenatal administration of N-acetylcysteine, an antioxidant and antiinflammatory agent, to reduce neonatal morbidity and mortality. Well-powered randomized controlled trials are needed to assess these interventions in patients with clinical chorioamnionitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustin Conde-Agudelo
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI; Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL.
| | - Eun Jung Jung
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Ángel José Garcia Sánchez
- Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
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Romero R, Gomez-Lopez N, Winters AD, Jung E, Shaman M, Bieda J, Panaitescu B, Pacora P, Erez O, Greenberg JM, Ahmad MM, Hsu CD, Theis KR. Evidence that intra-amniotic infections are often the result of an ascending invasion - a molecular microbiological study. J Perinat Med 2019; 47:915-931. [PMID: 31693497 PMCID: PMC7147941 DOI: 10.1515/jpm-2019-0297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 08/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Background Microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity resulting in intra-amniotic infection is associated with obstetrical complications such as preterm labor with intact or ruptured membranes, cervical insufficiency, as well as clinical and histological chorioamnionitis. The most widely accepted pathway for intra-amniotic infection is the ascension of microorganisms from the lower genital tract. However, hematogenous dissemination of microorganisms from the oral cavity or intestine, retrograde seeding from the peritoneal cavity through the fallopian tubes, and introduction through invasive medical procedures have also been suggested as potential pathways for intra-amniotic infection. The primary reason that an ascending pathway is viewed as most common is that the microorganisms most often detected in the amniotic fluid are those that are typical inhabitants of the vagina. However, thus far, no studies have shown that microorganisms in the amniotic cavity are simultaneously present in the vagina of the woman from which they were isolated. The objective of the study was to determine the frequency with which microorganisms isolated from women with intra-amniotic infection are also present in the lower genital tract. Methods This was a cross-sectional study of women with intra-amniotic infection with intact membranes. Intra-amniotic infection was defined as a positive culture and elevated concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6) (>2.6 ng/mL) in amniotic fluid and/or acute histologic chorioamnionitis and funisitis. Microorganisms isolated from bacterial cultures of amniotic fluid were taxonomically identified through matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) and 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing. Vaginal swabs were obtained at the time of amniocentesis for the identification of microorganisms in the lower genital tract. The overall bacterial profiles of amniotic fluids and vaginal swabs were characterized through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The bacterial profiles of vaginal swabs were interrogated for the presence of bacteria cultured from amniotic fluid and for the presence of prominent (>1% average relative abundance) operational taxonomic units (OTUs) within the overall 16S rRNA gene bacterial profiles of amniotic fluid. Results (1) A total of 75% (6/8) of women had bacteria cultured from their amniotic fluid that are typical residents of the vaginal ecosystem. (2) A total of 62.5% (5/8) of women with bacteria cultured from their amniotic fluid also had these bacteria present in their vagina. (3) The microorganisms cultured from amniotic fluid and also detected in the vagina were Ureaplasma urealyticum, Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus agalactiae. (4) 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that the amniotic fluid of women with intra-amniotic infection had bacterial profiles dominated by Sneathia, Ureaplasma, Prevotella, Lactobacillus, Escherichia, Gardnerella, Peptostreptococcus, Peptoniphilus, and Streptococcus, many of which had not been cultured from the amniotic fluid samples. (5) Seventy percent (7/10) of the prominent (>1% average relative abundance) OTUs found in amniotic fluid were also prominent in the vagina. Conclusion The majority of women with intra-amniotic infection had bacteria cultured from their amniotic fluid that were typical vaginal commensals, and these bacteria were detected within the vagina at the time of amniocentesis. Molecular microbiological interrogation of amniotic fluid from women with intra-amniotic infection revealed that the bacterial profiles of amniotic fluid were largely consistent with those of the vagina. These findings indicate that ascension from the lower genital tract is the primary pathway for intra-amniotic infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
- Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
- Perinatal Research Initiative in Maternal, Perinatal and Child Health, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Andrew D. Winters
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Eunjung Jung
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Majid Shaman
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Janine Bieda
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Bogdan Panaitescu
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Percy Pacora
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Offer Erez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
- Maternity Department “D,” Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka University Medical Center School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Jonathan M. Greenberg
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Madison M. Ahmad
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Chaur-Dong Hsu
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
- Perinatal Research Initiative in Maternal, Perinatal and Child Health, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Kevin R. Theis
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, and Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
- Perinatal Research Initiative in Maternal, Perinatal and Child Health, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
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8
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Radochova V, Stepan M, Kacerovska Musilova I, Slezak R, Vescicik P, Menon R, Jacobsson B, Kacerovsky M. Association between periodontal disease and preterm prelabour rupture of membranes. J Clin Periodontol 2019; 46:189-196. [PMID: 30638274 DOI: 10.1111/jcpe.13067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2018] [Revised: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Periodontal disease is a possible contributing factor to preterm delivery. The aim of this study was to compare the periodontal status of women with preterm prelabour rupture of membranes (PPROM) and women with uncomplicated singleton pregnancies. PATIENTS AND METHODS Seventy-eight women with PPROM at gestational ages between 24 + 0 and 36 + 6 weeks and 77 healthy women with uncomplicated pregnancies, matched for gestational age at sampling without preterm birth, were included in this study. All women underwent evaluation of periodontal and oral hygiene status. RESULTS Women with PPROM had higher gingival and plaque indexes in crude analysis (gingival index: median 0.80 versus 0.20; p < 0.0001; plaque index: median 0.80 versus 0.10; p < 0.0001), even after adjustment for smoking status (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0001). Mean clinical attachment loss (CAL) and probing pocket depth (PPD) values were higher in women with PPROM in the crude analysis (CAL: median 2.3 mm versus 1.8 mm; p < 0.0001; PPD: median 2.3 mm versus 1.8; p < 0.0001), as well as after adjustment for smoking status (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Pregnant women with PPROM residing in central Europe had worse periodontal status than women with uncomplicated pregnancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimira Radochova
- Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, University Hospital in Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Stepan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, University Hospital in Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - Ivana Kacerovska Musilova
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, University Hospital in Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - Radovan Slezak
- Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, University Hospital in Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - Peter Vescicik
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, University Hospital in Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - Ramkumar Menon
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine & Perinatal Research, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas
| | - Bo Jacobsson
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Domain of Health Data and Digitalization, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Marian Kacerovsky
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, University Hospital in Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic.,Biomedical Research Center, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
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9
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Strauss JF, Romero R, Gomez-Lopez N, Haymond-Thornburg H, Modi BP, Teves ME, Pearson LN, York TP, Schenkein HA. Spontaneous preterm birth: advances toward the discovery of genetic predisposition. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2018; 218:294-314.e2. [PMID: 29248470 PMCID: PMC5834399 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2017.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2017] [Revised: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/06/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Evidence from family and twin-based studies provide strong support for a significant contribution of maternal and fetal genetics to the timing of parturition and spontaneous preterm birth. However, there has been only modest success in the discovery of genes predisposing to preterm birth, despite increasing sophistication of genetic and genomic technology. In contrast, DNA variants associated with other traits/diseases have been identified. For example, there is overwhelming evidence that suggests that the nature and intensity of an inflammatory response in adults and children are under genetic control. Because inflammation is often invoked as an etiologic factor in spontaneous preterm birth, the question of whether spontaneous preterm birth has a genetic predisposition in the case of pathologic inflammation has been of long-standing interest to investigators. Here, we review various genetic approaches used for the discovery of preterm birth genetic variants in the context of inflammation-associated spontaneous preterm birth. Candidate gene studies have sought genetic variants that regulate inflammation in the mother and fetus; however, the promising findings have often not been replicated. Genome-wide association studies, an approach to the identification of chromosomal loci responsible for complex traits, have also not yielded compelling evidence for DNA variants predisposing to preterm birth. A recent genome-wide association study that included a large number of White women (>40,000) revealed that maternal loci contribute to preterm birth. Although none of these loci harbored genes directly related to innate immunity, the results were replicated. Another approach to identify DNA variants predisposing to preterm birth is whole exome sequencing, which examines the DNA sequence of protein-coding regions of the genome. A recent whole exome sequencing study identified rare mutations in genes encoding for proteins involved in the negative regulation (dampening) of the innate immune response (eg, CARD6, CARD8, NLRP10, NLRP12, NOD2, TLR10) and antimicrobial peptide/proteins (eg, DEFB1, MBL2). These findings support the concept that preterm labor, at least in part, has an inflammatory etiology, which can be induced by pathogens (ie, intraamniotic infection) or "danger signals" (alarmins) released during cellular stress or necrosis (ie, sterile intraamniotic inflammation). These findings support the notion that preterm birth has a polygenic basis that involves rare mutations or damaging variants in multiple genes involved in innate immunity and host defense mechanisms against microbes and their noxious products. An overlap among the whole exome sequencing-identified genes and other inflammatory conditions associated with preterm birth, such as periodontal disease and inflammatory bowel disease, was observed, which suggests a shared genetic substrate for these conditions. We propose that whole exome sequencing, as well as whole genome sequencing, is the most promising approach for the identification of functionally significant genetic variants responsible for spontaneous preterm birth, at least in the context of pathologic inflammation. The identification of genes that contribute to preterm birth by whole exome sequencing, or whole genome sequencing, promises to yield valuable population-specific biomarkers to identify the risk for spontaneous preterm birth and potential strategies to mitigate such a risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerome F Strauss
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA; Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA.
| | - Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute for Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.
| | - Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute for Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Biochemistry, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Hannah Haymond-Thornburg
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA
| | - Bhavi P Modi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Maria E Teves
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA
| | - Laurel N Pearson
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
| | - Timothy P York
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA; Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA
| | - Harvey A Schenkein
- Department of Periodontics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry, Richmond, VA
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