The relationship of amniotic fluid phosphate-to-zinc ratios to post-cesarean section infection.

Although many reports concerning risk factors for post-cesarean section febrile morbidity have been published, few have considered the antibacterial activity of amniotic fluid. This study, in which the amniotic fluid phosphate-to-zinc ratios were used as a reflection of antibacterial activity, demonstrates that, among 85 patients who underwent elective repeat cesarean sections, less febrile morbidity was present when the patient's amniotic fluid had greater antibacterial activity. There was less standard fever, use of antibiotics, and endometritis among patients whose amniotic fluid had lower phosphate-to-zinc ratios.