ABSTRACT
Intrapartum fetal monitoring has become a standard procedure for the evaluation of fetal well being during labor. The passage of a mechanical conduit through a nonsterile area and the application of a scalp electrode to the fetal head introduce the potential for augmented fetal infectious morbidity. There is no statistically significant increase in the maternal infectious morbidity. The risks to the mother are basically those inherent in the situation, for example, premature rupture of the fetal membranes and labor or the presence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae or group A streptococci as part of the vaginal flora. The combination of rupture of the membranes and labor, aside from the presence of exogenous pathogens in the vaginal flora, is the major risk factor for both the frequency and the severity of maternal infection. Once the membranes are ruptured, internal monitoring does not appear to add to the risk for the gravida.
