Infection as a Cause of Death in the Perinatal Period

Abstract

Infection causes many stillbirths and neonatal deaths. It may be acquired prenatally from the mother or postnatally in the nursery. If the possibility of intrauterine infection exists, the author recommends that the infant should be treated from the moment of birth. Prophylactic therapy has been found useful in nursery epidemics caused by staphylococcal organisms. Use of human blood products in overcoming deficiencies in infants' defense mechanisms is being investigated.