Antibacterial activity in amniotic fluid from west virginia women.

Amniotic fluids from women in West Virginia were evaluated for the presence of antibacterial activity by a bioassay technique. 41% of 32 third trimester samples were inhibitory. Evaluation of additional test organisms emphasized differences in susceptibility of various bacterial strains; two isolates of Escherichia coli were found which were more sensitive to the phosphate-sensitive antibacterial system of amniotic fluid than in the initial test organism. The stated prevalence of inhibition may therefore be considered a conservative estimate.