Brenda Kazemier

Impact of obstetric history on the risk of spontaneous preterm birth in singleton and multiple pregnancies: a systematic review

Information about the recurrence of spontaneous preterm birth in subsequent twin/singleton pregnancies is scattered.

Asymptomatic bacteriuria and urinary tract infections in special patient groups: women with diabetes mellitus and pregnant women

Purpose of review Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) and urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women with diabetes mellitus and during pregnancy are common and can have far-reaching consequences for the woman and neonate. This review describes epidemiology, risk factors, complications and treatment of UTI and ASB according to recent developments in these two groups. Recent findings Most articles addressing the epidemiology and risk factors of ASB and UTI in diabetic and pregnant women confirmed existing knowledge. New insights were obtained in the association between sodium–glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, as medication for diabetes mellitus type 2, and a small increased risk for UTI due to glucosuria and the possible negative effects of UTI, including urosepsis,on bladder and kidney function in diabetic women. Predominantly, potential long-term effects of antibiotic treatment of ASB or UTI during pregnancy on the neonate have received attention, including antibiotic resistance and epilepsy. Summary SGLT2 inhibitors were associated with a small increased risk for UTI, UTI in diabetic women may lead to bladder and kidney dysfunction, and antibiotic treatment of ASB and UTI during pregnancy was associated with long-term effects on the neonate. Up-to-date research on the effectiveness and long-term effects of ASB screening and treatment policies, including group B Streptococcus bacteriuria in pregnancy, is warranted to inform clinical practice.

Risk of maternal and neonatal complications in subsequent pregnancy after planned caesarean section in a first birth, compared with emergency caesarean section: a nationwide comparative cohort study

To compare the difference in risks of neonatal and maternal complications, including uterine rupture, in a second birth following a planned caesarean section versus emergency caesarean section in the first birth.

Costs and effects of screening and treating low risk women with a singleton pregnancy for asymptomatic bacteriuria, the ASB study

BackgroundThe prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) in pregnancy is 2-10% and is associated with both maternal and neonatal adverse outcomes as pyelonephritis and preterm delivery. Antibiotic treatment is reported to decrease these adverse outcomes although the existing evidence is of poor quality.Methods/DesignWe plan a combined screen and treat study in women with a singleton pregnancy. We will screen women between 16 and 22 weeks of gestation for ASB using the urine dipslide technique. The dipslide is considered positive when colony concentration ≥105 colony forming units (CFU)/mL of a single microorganism or two different colonies but one ≥105 CFU/mL is found, or when Group B Streptococcus bacteriuria is found in any colony concentration. Women with a positive dipslide will be randomly allocated to receive nitrofurantoin or placebo 100 mg twice a day for 5 consecutive days (double blind). Primary outcomes of this trial are maternal pyelonephritis and/or preterm delivery before 34 weeks. Secondary outcomes are neonatal and maternal morbidity, neonatal weight, time to delivery, preterm delivery rate before 32 and 37 weeks, days of admission in neonatal intensive care unit, maternal admission days and costs.DiscussionThis trial will provide evidence for the benefit and cost-effectiveness of dipslide screening for ASB among low risk women at 16–22 weeks of pregnancy and subsequent nitrofurantoin treatment.Trial registrationDutch trial registry: NTR-3068

Impact of fetal gender on the risk of preterm birth, a national cohort study

Fetal gender is associated with preterm birth; however, a proper subdivision by onset of labor and corresponding neonatal outcome by week of gestation is lacking.

Preventing Preterm Birth with Progesterone in Women with a Short Cervical Length from a Low-Risk Population: A Multicenter Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Randomized Trial

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of vaginal progesterone in reducing adverse neonatal outcome due to preterm birth (PTB) in low-risk pregnant women with a short cervical length (CL). STUDY DESIGN Women with a singleton pregnancy without a history of PTB underwent CL measurement at 18 to 22 weeks. Women with a CL ≤ 30 mm received vaginal progesterone or placebo. Primary outcome was adverse neonatal outcome, defined as a composite of respiratory distress syndrome, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, intracerebral hemorrhage > grade II, necrotizing enterocolitis > stage 1, proven sepsis, or death before discharge. Secondary outcomes included time to delivery, PTB before 32, 34, and 37 weeks of gestation. Analysis was by intention to treat. RESULTS Between 2009 and 2013, 20,234 women were screened. A CL of 30 mm or less was seen in 375 women (1.8%). In 151 women, a CL ≤ 30 mm was confirmed with a second measurement and 80 of these women agreed to participate in the trial. We randomly allocated 41 women to progesterone and 39 to placebo. Adverse neonatal outcomes occurred in two (5.0%) women in the progesterone and in four (11%) women in the control group (relative risk [RR], 0.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.09-2.4). The use of progesterone resulted in a nonsignificant reduction of PTB < 32 weeks (2.0 vs. 8.0%; RR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.04-3.0) and < 34 weeks (7.0 vs. 10%; RR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.18-3.1) but not on PTB < 37 weeks (15 vs. 13%; RR, 1.2; 95% CI, 0.39-3.5). CONCLUSION In women with a short cervix, who are otherwise low risk, we could not show a significant benefit of progesterone in reducing adverse neonatal outcome and PTB.

The capacity of mid-pregnancy cervical length to predict preterm birth in low-risk women: a national cohort study

We investigated the predictive capacity of mid‐trimester cervical length (CL) measurement for spontaneous and iatrogenic preterm birth.

Is cervical length associated with maternal characteristics

OBJECTIVE Women with a mid-trimester short cervical length (CL) are at increased risk for preterm delivery. Consequently, CL measurement is a potential screening tool to identify women at risk for preterm birth. Our objective was to assess possible associations between CL and maternal characteristics. STUDY DESIGN A nationwide screening study was performed in which CL was measured during the standard anomaly scan among low risk women with a singleton pregnancy. Data on maternal height, pre-pregnancy weight, ethnicity, parity and gestational age at the time of the CL measurement were collected from January 2010 to December 2012. Univariable and multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to assess the relationship between CL and maternal characteristics. RESULTS We included 5092 women. The mean CL was 44.3mm. No association was found between CL and maternal height or gestational age of the measurement. Maternal weight was associated with CL (p=0.007, adjusted R(2) 0.03). Separate analysis for BMI did not change these results. Ethnicity, known in 2702 out of 5092 women, was associated with CL (mean CL in Caucasian women 45.0mm, Asian 43.9mm, Mediterranean 43.1mm, and African 41.8mm, p=0.003), as well as parity (mean CL multiparous 45.3mm, nulliparous 43.5mm, p<0.0001). CONCLUSION Shorter mid-trimester cervical length is associated with higher maternal weight, younger maternal age, nulliparity and non-Caucasian ethnicity, but not with maternal height.

The role of depressive symptoms in the pathway of demographic and psychosocial risks to preterm birth and small for gestational age

OBJECTIVE depressive symptoms during pregnancy are associated with preterm birth (PTB) and small for gestational age (SGA). Depressive symptoms and PTB and SGA, however, share similar demographic and psychosocial risk factors. Therefore, we investigated whether depressive symptomatology is an independent risk factor, or a mediator in the pathway of demographic and psychosocial risks to PTB and SGA. DESIGN multicentre follow-up study. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING pregnant women (n=1013) from midwifery practices, secondary hospitals and a tertiary hospital in three urban areas in the Netherlands. MEASUREMENTS initial risk factors and depressive symptoms were assessed with the Mind2Care instrument, including Edinburgh Depression Scale (EDS) during early pregnancy. Pregnancy outcomes were extracted from medical records. A formal mediation analysis was conducted to investigate the role of depressive symptoms in the pathway to PTB and SGA. FINDINGS a univariate association between depressive symptoms and PTB (OR:1.04; 95% CI:1.00-1.08) was observed. After adjusting for the risk factors educational level and smoking in the mediation analysis, this association disappeared. One educational aspect remained associated: low education OR: 1.06; 95%-CI:1.02-1.10. KEY CONCLUSIONS depressive symptomatology appeared no mediator in the pathway of demographic and psychosocial risks to PTB or SGA. The presumed association between depressive symptoms and PTB seems spurious and may be explained by demographic and psychosocial risk factors. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE for the prevention of PTB and SGA, interventions directed at demographic and psychosocial risk factors are likely to be of primary concern for clinicians and public health initiatives. As depressive symptoms and PTB and SGA share similar risk factors, both will profit.

Optimal timing of near-term delivery in different ethnicities: a national cohort study

To study possible ethnic disparities in perinatal mortality and morbidity independent of the occurrence of pregnancy complications. In addition, to study the probabilities of adverse neonatal outcome for delivery, compared with 1 week of expectant management for each week of gestational age in the range of 36–42 weeks of gestation.