McDonald HM, et al. - Researchers examined whether microorganisms correlated with intrauterine infection and preterm labor contribute to midgestation abortion. They conducted a 4-year retrospective review of spontaneous midgestation abortions for which they performed autopsy and microbiological cultures of placental and fetal tissue for a tertiary obstetrics hospital. Examination of 129 spontaneously delivered, nonmacerated, midgestation fetuses or stillbirths (of between 16 and 26 weeks’ gestation) and placentas was done. Of these, 85 (66%) cases (57% placentas, 49% fetuses) exhibited presence of microorganisms. Findings suggest that many spontaneous midgestation abortions may be attributable to unsuspected intrauterine infection. In this setting, the key pathogen identified was group B streptococcus.