The clinical importance of urinary tract infections during pregnancy. III. Neonatal morbidity and mortality.

The third part of the series shows that the various forms of maternal urinary tract infections have a negative effect on the newborn. Already at birth, there are several depressed babies in need of resuscitation. The frequency of prolonged jaundice requiring treatment has been increasing. The babies are more predisposed to infections. Congenital pneumonia more often occurs. As a result, the exposure of babies to drugs and x-rays is greater and perinatal mortality is higher. The newborn are much frailer than they should be on the basis of the frequency of their prematurity. The epidemiological analysis raises the possibility of the harmful effect of intrauterine infections in bacteriuric and pyelonephritic pregnancies.