Table 1

Short-term and long-term complications associated with perinatally acquired Ureaplasma species

Affected organ or systemShort-term problemLong-term problems
PulmonaryPneumonitis,3 congenital pneumonia,4 BPD5BPD, reactive airway disease, asthma6
GastrointestinalNecrotising enterocolitis7 8Short bowel syndrome, failure to thrive
Central nervous systemIntraventricular haemorrhage ≥Grade III,9 10 meningitis11Posthaemorrhagic hydrocephalus, neurodevelopmental delays12
OphthalmologicSevere ROP13Retinal detachment, blindness, myopia, strabismus
CardiovascularPulmonary hypertension (term infants)14
ImmunologicBacteremia,15 leukocytosis,16 cytokinemia,9 17 endotoxin tolerance18Unknown

  • BPD, bronchopulmonary dysplasia; ROP, retinopathy of prematurity.