The data available in the world literature on studies of infection and inflammation as a factor that leads to premature birth have been sought and analyzed. Premature birth is the central problem of modern obstetrics, the leading cause of perinatal and infant morbidity and mortality. New potential methods for the diagnosis of spontaneous premature birth and preterm amniorrhea, as well as the basic stages of the pathogenesis of this process have been analyzed in detail. Diagnostic transabdominal ultrasound-guided amniocentesis should be considered as an important element in the diagnostic verification of threatening and imminent preterm births with subsequent correction of their obstetric management according to the findings.