Gale Bartholomew Hill

The microflora of the female lower genital tract is an important source of opportunistic pathogens that are etiologic in many pelvic infections, e.g., chorioamnionitis, post-partum endometrities, salpingitis, and post-operative infections. Additionally, there is strong evidence of a role in premature births. An alteration of the vaginal microflora in adult women, bacterial vaginosis, has been linked to a higher risk for the infections listed above and to premature birth. My research is directed toward 1) elucidating the specific microoranisms in the microflora most closely associated with bacterial vaginosis and prematurity, 2) understanding the control mechanisms of vaginal ecology which favor the development of bacterial vaginosis and particularly the presence of the species most etiologic in prematurity, 3) evaluating the biological and biochemical properties of these species, 4) theorizing and testing of probable pathogenetic mechanisms in prematurity based on these and other data and finally, 5) developing effective preventative measures and therapeutic modalities for bacterial vaginosis and prematurity.

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology · 1992 - Present Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynecology

Recent Publications

Fusobacterium nucleatum induces premature and term stillbirths in pregnant mice: implication of oral bacteria in preterm birth.

Journal Article Infect Immun · April 2004 Fusobacterium nucleatum is a gram-negative anaerobe ubiquitous to the oral cavity. It is associated with periodontal disease. It is also associated with preterm birth and has been isolated from the amniotic fluid, placenta, and chorioamnionic membranes of ... Full text Link to item Cite

Techniques for isolating pelvic bacterial pathogens

Journal Article Contemporary Ob Gyn · December 1, 1998 Since most pelvic infections in females are an anaerobic-aerobic mix, the ob-gyn forearmed with this knowledge can round up the usual etiologic suspects - as well as the rare ones. Whenever feasible, procure specimens for microbial culture before initiatin ... Cite

Preterm birth: associations with genital and possibly oral microflora.

Journal Article Ann Periodontol · July 1998 Opportunistic pathogenic microbes are indigenous to the female lower genital tract and etiologic in many types of pelvic infections and, apparently, a portion of preterm birth (PTB) cases. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a clinical syndrome based on an altered ... Full text Link to item Cite

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Education, Training & Certifications

Duke University · 1966 Ph.D.

Florida State University · 1956 B.S.