DiagnosticGuidelinePrevention New bacteria test could identify risk of pre-term birth

A study has found that a new device can rapidly and accurately detect changes in vaginal bacteria and corresponding immune responses in pregnant women, associated with increased risk of preterm birth.

The test could help identify women at risk of preterm birth sooner, potentially allowing obstetricians to monitor these women more closely and start preventative treatments earlier and in a more targeted way than currently possible. This is according to the researchers from the March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center at Imperial College London, with underpinning support from the NIHR Imperial BRC who have published their work in Nature Communications.

More information and the full story by Emily Head, can be found here © Imperial College London

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