What is a potential consequence of untreated maternal chorioamnionitis on a newborn?

Untreated maternal chorioamnionitis poses a significant risk to the newborn, primarily by increasing the risk of infection. Chorioamnionitis is an infection of the amniotic fluid and membranes surrounding the fetus, and when it occurs, bacteria can be transmitted to the baby during labor and delivery. This heightened exposure to microbial pathogens can lead to early-onset neonatal sepsis, a serious condition characterized by a systemic inflammatory response due to infection.

Increased risk of infection is critical because it can manifest in various ways, including pneumonia, meningitis, or systemic infections, all of which can result in severe complications for the newborn. The baby's immature immune system makes it particularly vulnerable to such infections, underscoring the importance of timely identification and treatment of chorioamnionitis during pregnancy and labor.

The other options, while they might relate to complications that could arise for infants, are less direct outcomes of untreated chorioamnionitis. For instance, decreased birth weight might occur due to various factors during pregnancy, and while long-term developmental delays can result from numerous prenatal and perinatal issues, they are not acute outcomes directly associated with chorioamnionitis. Immediate respiratory failure can occur in cases of severe infection but is not as commonly