Is the Early Screening of Lower Genital Tract Infections Useful in Preventing Adverse Obstetrical Outcomes in Twin Pregnancy?

Abstract

Objectives: Twin pregnancy implies a higher risk of preterm birth and, consequently, higher neonatal morbidity and mortality. In singleton pregnancies, infections of the lower genital tract (LGTIs) and bacterial vaginosis are associated with preterm labor, and their early detection has been proven effective in reducing complications like the preterm premature rupture of membranes (pPROM) and preterm delivery. The same evidence, however, is lacking for twin pregnancies. This study aimed to evaluate whether the early identification and treatment of LGTIs or bacterial vaginosis in asymptomatic women with twin pregnancy could reduce the rate of miscarriages, pPROM, and preterm birth. Methods: This study performed a retrospective comparison of 285 women with a multiple pregnancy submitted for a cervico-vaginal swab only at 20-22 weeks (Single Test Group, STG), and 199 women who underwent the swab at 12-14 and again at 20-22 weeks (Double Test Group, DTG). All women included in the study had a twin pregnancy and were followed up at Sant'Anna Hospital, Turin (Italy), between September 2012 and February 2021. Results: In STG, 21.7% of patients had a positive swab; in DTG, 19.9% had an early positive swab that was immediately treated by targeted antibiotics; and 16.7% had a mid-pregnancy positive swab. The DTG showed a significantly lower incidence of pPROM in univariate analysis (14.4% vs. 23.1%, p = 0.021), which was confirmed by multivariate analysis (OR 0.55, CI 0.33-0.93, p = 0.025). Conclusions: Our study suggests that, in asymptomatic women with twin pregnancy, the early screening of LGTIs and bacterial vaginosis by a cervico-vaginal swab at 12-14 weeks of gestational age is effective in reducing the risk of pPROM.

Keywords: lower genital tract infections; pPROM; preterm birth; twin pregnancy.