[Bacteriaemia during parturition (author's transl)].

Bacteriological tests were made of 606 blood cultures which had been obtained from 64 women in labour. Positive findings were recorded from 8.1 per cent, whereas another positive percentage established before delivery amounted to 4.7 only. The percentage of bacteriaemia findings was not substantively increased following electronic monitoring of childbirth. Beta-haemolysing streptococci were found to grow in 7.8 per cent of vaginal smear cultures taken from women in labour and in six per cent of cultures taken from newborns. Amniotic fluid was also bacteriologically tested during labour.