Introduction
deaths
PRETERM BIRTH, PRETERM BIRTH, REPRODUCTIVE TRACT INFECTION, PATHOGENESIS
Preterm birth is a serious medical concern worldwide. Globally, approximately 15 million premature infants are born annually and 1 million preterm birth-related infant deaths occur (The proportion of preterm births due to reproductive tract infections is approximately 25–40% of the total number of preterm births (How do we identify ‘hidden’ and key infectious factors? It is essential to determine “who benefits from cervical cerclage.” Traditional pathogen detection methods have limited capabilities for identifying reproductive tract infections and vaginal microbiomes. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, high-throughput detection of vaginal microbial-exclusive nucleic acid fragments at the genus level, and detailed analysis of vaginal microbiota can provide a potent analytical tool for understanding the pathogenesis of preterm birth and predicting its risk of preterm birth (Therefore, the influence of the vaginal microbiome should be considered when assessing the efficacy of cerclage in preterm births. Moreover, it is essential to clarify the cervical support function of cerclage to reduce the risk of vaginal microbiota dysbiosis.