Lee YH, Cherkerzian S, Seidman LJ, et al. - Researchers examined if a correlation exists between maternal bacterial infection during pregnancy and offspring risk of psychotic disorders in adulthood and if the severity of infectious exposure and offspring gender influences this correlation. Data from 15,421 pregnancies among women enrolled between 1959 and 1966 at two study sites through the Collaborative Perinatal Project were assessed. The analysis revealed a strong correlation of maternal bacterial infection during pregnancy with psychosis in offspring. Compared with a less severe localized bacterial infection, nearly twice effect of the multisystemic bacterial infection was observed. Relative to females, males were significantly more frequently developed psychosis after maternal exposure to any bacterial infection during pregnancy.