Correlation of amniotic fluid glucose concentration and intraamniotic infection in patients with preterm labor or premature rupture of membranes

Abstract

Amniotic fluid glucose concentration has previously been suggested as a rapid and sensitive test for diagnosing intraamniotic infection. In this study, 204 patients less than or equal to 34 weeks estimated gestational age with preterm labor or premature rupture of membranes underwent amniocentesis to detect subclinical intraamniotic infection. Amniotic fluid was cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, as well as for Mycoplasma species. Amniotic fluid glucose levels were significantly lower in patients with positive amniotic fluid cultures than in patients with negative cultures (median, 10 mg/dl; range, 1 to 62 mg/dl vs median, 31 mg/dl; range, 2 to 126 mg/dl, respectively; p less than 0.001). In terms of predicting amniotic fluid culture results, an amniotic fluid glucose concentration of less than or equal to 16 mg/dl had a sensitivity of 79%, specificity of 94%, positive predictive value of 87%, and negative predictive value of 90%. The determination of amniotic fluid glucose concentration is useful in detecting subclinical intraamniotic infection in patients less than or equal to 34 weeks estimated gestational age with preterm labor or premature rupture of membranes.