Abstract
Objective: We sought to determine if preterm labor is associated with the degree of maternal hypoxia
in pregnant women with community-acquired pneumonia but no other maternal diseases.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all antepartum patients admitted
with a diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia to an inner-city university hospital between
1983 and 1987. Included in this review were only the patients with radiologically confirmed diagnose
of pneumonia and documented arterial blood gases on room air at the time of admission, but no
other maternal diseases.Results: A total of 22 cases were identified. There was no maternal mortality, but there were 2
patients (9%) who developed respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. Bacteremia with
Streptococcus pneumoniae was documented in 1 patient (5%). Preterm labor complicated 5 cases
(23%) and led to preterm delivery in 3 patients (14%). Terbutaline tocolysis was instituted in 3
patients, but was discontinued in 1 patient who was allowed to deliver because of her worsening
condition. Preterm labor was associated with the WBC count on admission, usually > 18,000/