Abstract

Preterm birth, defined as delivery before 37 completed weeks of gestation, poses a critical global health challenge, affecting approximately 13.4 million infants annually and representing a leading cause of early infant mortality. Despite significant global efforts, progress in reducing preterm birth rates has stagnated, particularly in low-to-middle-income countries and vulnerable populations. This stagnation underscores the need for intensified research, investment and innovation to address the complex and incompletely understood pathophysiology underlying spontaneous preterm birth. Intrauterine inflammation, often triggered by microbial infections like chorioamnionitis, is a well-established factor associated with a substantial proportion of preterm births.

Keywords: Preterm birth; Inflammatory markers; Pregnancy; Microbial-induced intrauterine inflammation; STI; HIV