Asymptomatic gonorrhea and pregnancy.

A 4 year survey of a low socioeconomic prenatal population in a large outpatient clinic revealed an incidence of 4.4% gonorrhea by cervical culture. These patients who were culture-positive had a 7.6% perinatal mortality rate compared to a 3.0% perinatal mortality rate among culture-negative patients from the same clinic. The immaturity and prematurity rate was significantly higher in the culture-positive group as was the incidence of premature rupture of the membranes and prolonged premature rupture of membranes.