Using new technology, Stanford researchers in California reported on Monday that bacteria and fungi in amniotic fluid may cause a significant number of premature births.

The more heavily infected the amniotic fluid, the more likely the woman was to deliver a younger, sicker baby, researchers reported in PLoS One, the online journal of the Public Library of Science.

In the Stanford study, researchers used both PCR and lab cultures. They looked at fluid samples from 166 women in preterm labor; 113 of the women went on to deliver premature babies.

Twenty-five of the 166 samples were infected with either bacteria or fungi.

They also found at least one unknown organism that could be a new species.

Premature babies are vulnerable to breathing problems, underdeveloped organs, infections and cerebral palsy.

Now the team is working to see if infections can be detected before pre-term labor starts, which could lead to new prevention or treatment approaches.

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