The prevalence of potential pathogenic micro-organisms in the endocervix of pregnant women at Tygerberg Hospital.

The prevalence of potential pathogenic organisms cultured from the endocervix in 206 pregnant patients was: Ureaplasma urealyticum 63%, Mycoplasma hominis 39%, Candida albicans 20%, Chlamydia trachomatis 11%, Neisseria gonorrhoeae 7%, group B beta-haemolytic streptococcus 6% and Listeria monocytogenes 1%. The most common complications of pregnancy found were: preterm labour 14%, urinary tract infection 8% and premature rupture of membranes 4%. Significantly more patients in whom C. trachomatis or C. albicans were found delivered prematurely. Other organisms were not associated with preterm labour.