Management of acute chorioamnionitis.

Acute chorioamnionitis has been recognized as a major threat to both mother and fetus, but there has been little study of its therapy. On this service, the plan of management consists of parenteral, broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy and prompt action to effect delivery. Cesarean section was generally performed only when there were additional obstetric indications. No arbitrary time limit was set for the diagnosis-to-delivery interval. The perinatal mortality rate was increased fourfold, but few deaths could be attributed to infection. Maternal outcome was usually good following vaginal delivery and more complicated following abdominal delivery. Over 90% of patients were delivered within 12 hours of diagnosis of chorioamnionitis.