Scientists in Mumbai claimed to have found a link between preterm births — babies born before the expected due date — and bacterial infection in the mother’s vagina during pregnancy. This finding has opened new avenues for scientists to look for preventive treatments, said the authors of the study. Estimates show that India accounts for 35% of the world’s preterm births, highest in the world. Dr Nilima Kshirsagar, national chair clinical pharmacology , Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), said with this new research, scientists can change the clinical practice and start looking for new drugs which will be useful in treatment. “At present, doctors give only antibiotics as treatment to prevent preterm births.

Source: Hindustan Times September 07, 2016 06:49 UTC