The Association of Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci (CONS) Isolated from the Chorio-amnion at Delivery and Subsequent Development of Cerebral Palsy (CP). Mittendorf R, Covert R, Kohn J, et al. J Perinatol Jan-Feb 2001; 21: 3-8.

This study was done to investigate a possible association between cultures positive for CONS and a subsequent outcome of cerebral palsy. At delivery, cultures were obtained from the chorioamnion space, and, when medically indicated, from the neonate in the NICU. Surviving neonates underwent final examination for cerebral palsy at age 18 months. Of the 6 children in the Magnesium and Neurologic Endpoints Trial who had cerebral palsy, chorioamnion cultures were obtained on 5. Four of these 5 children (80%) had CONS-positive cultures, whereas 26 of 102 (25%) children without cerebral palsy were CONS-positive (p = 0.02). In the NICU, of children with cerebral palsy, the prevalence of culture proven CONS was 80% (4/5); for those without cerebral palsy, the prevalence was 17% (15/86) (p = 0.01). Using multivariate logistic regression to control for confounding variables, CONS in the chorioamnion remained significant (odds ratio = 37.7, 95% CI = 3.0 to infinity). However, when controlled for ELBW, non-vertex presentation and ventilator > 20 days, the association between culture-proven CONS in the NICU and cerebral palsy became insignificant.