What infection risk increases when a pregnant woman's membranes rupture?

What infection risk increases when a pregnant woman's membranes rupture?

• A. Infection
• B. Dehydration
• C. Hypoglycemia
• D. Hypertension

Answer: (A)

Rupture of membranes breaks the barrier between the sterile uterine environment and the vaginal canal, allowing bacteria from the birth canal to ascend into the amniotic cavity. This markedly raises the risk of intra-amniotic infection, such as chorioamnionitis, and can lead to postpartum endometritis and potential neonatal sepsis. The risk increases the longer the membranes have been ruptured before delivery, which is why monitoring for fever, uterine tenderness, and fetal distress is important. The other conditions listed are not direct consequences of membrane rupture. Dehydration, hypoglycemia, and hypertension relate to other aspects of pregnancy health and do not arise specifically from membranes rupturing.

Rupture of membranes breaks the barrier between the sterile uterine environment and the vaginal canal, allowing bacteria from the birth canal to ascend into the amniotic cavity. This markedly raises the risk of intra-amniotic infection, such as chorioamnionitis, and can lead to postpartum endometritis and potential neonatal sepsis. The risk increases the longer the membranes have been ruptured before delivery, which is why monitoring for fever, uterine tenderness, and fetal distress is important.

The other conditions listed are not direct consequences of membrane rupture. Dehydration, hypoglycemia, and hypertension relate to other aspects of pregnancy health and do not arise specifically from membranes rupturing.