Staphylococcus aureus causing chorioamnionitis and fetal death with intact membranes at term. A case report

Abstract

Background: Neonatal infection without premature rupture of amniotic membranes occurs in 1-2% of births. The prevalence of membrane inflammation among term births is approximately 10%. There has been only one case report of Staphylococcus aureus as the cause of chorioamnionitis with intact membranes.

Case: A 24-year-old woman was admitted at 38 weeks of pregnancy with labor pains. On admission, she had a slight fever of 37.8 degrees C, but the other physical findings were within normal limits. There were no symptoms or signs of membrane rupture. Fetal heart monitoring showed slight tachycardia, 160 beats per minute, and loss of variability. Fetal death was detected when the fetal monitoring was resumed after being interrupted for 30 minutes. A male infant weighing 2,920 g was born dead. Artificial rupture of the membranes had been performed just before delivery.

Conclusion: Culture specimens from the placenta and cord blood showed growth of S aureus, and histologic examination revealed chorioamnionitis. The bacteriologic evidence from the infant clearly identified S aureus.