The frequency of microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity and histologic chorioamnionitis in women at term with intact membranes in the presence or absence of labor

We came to the following conclusions: (1) labor is associated with an increased risk of MIAC, a higher median AF WBC count, and histologic chorioamnionitis in term pregnancy with intact membranes; (2) the more advanced the cervical dilatation, the greater the risk of MIAC, a higher median AF WBC count, and histologic chorioamnionitis; and (3) in contrast, fetal inflammation (funisitis) did not increase with the presence of labor or as a function of cervical dilatation. We propose that labor predisposes to MIAC, a higher median AF WBC count, and histologic chorioamnionitis.