More than 1,000 premature births a year could be prevented by testing pregnant women for infections, an expert has said.

Testing women for infections 'could prevent 1,000 premature births a year'
Article in the Telegraph

Extract:

"Half of all early deliveries are caused by infections, according to Dr Ronnie Lamont, a consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology at Imperial College London.

He said that screening mothers-to-be and giving them antibiotics if necessary could reduce the number of risky premature births.

His comments came after a study showed that infections are the cause of more early births than previously recognised.

In Britain around 80,000 babies a year are born before 37 weeks of age.

Of these, one in five, or around 17,000, needs intensive care to help them grow and fight off infections."

advice for pregnant mothers