Amniotic fluid neutrophils prior to Cesarean section and intrauterine infection.

Amniotic fluid from 35 patients delivered by cesarean section was examined by Wright's stain. Of the patients in labor and with rupture of the membranes, 32% had more than 1 polymorphonuclear neutrophil per oil field (PMN/OF) while 68% had less than 1 PMN/OF. In both groups, endometritis occurred frequently, and fever indexes were similar. With ruptured membranes prior to cesarean section, observing greater than 1 PMN/OF of amniotic fluid did not discriminate groups at high and low risk for intrauterine infection.