WASHINGTON – Infections may force premature birth, says a new study that found one out of seven women in pre-term labor invaded bacteria or fungi in their amniotic fluid. This small study does not prove that the germs provoke the early labor.

But Monday’s research used specialized lab tests to find out microbes, which missed by ordinary methods, and exposed more women with prevalent infections than previously estimated.

The intensity of infection increases the chances of a woman to deliver underweight, sicker baby, researchers reported.

“We don’t think any organisms belong in the amniotic sac,” said Dr. David Relman, the study’s author. “You’d have to assume there’s something wrong.”

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