Water vs conventional births: infection rates compared.

A comparative study of colonisation of infection rates in mother and baby was carried out. Thirty-two women were screened before delivery for the presence of micro-organisms. Half of this sample delivered in water and half did not. The birthing tub water was sampled before, during and after delivery. The most significant finding was that most women and babies showed no evidence of clinical infection. However, large numbers of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter sp. were isolated from the water of one delivery; Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated initially from the ear and groin of the child and subsequently from multiple sites, including the umbilicus and 'septic skin lesions'. Lack of adherence to the cleaning protocol for water births appeared to be an important factor in this clinical episode.