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In utero exposure to Ureaplasma spp. is associated with increased rate of bronchopulmonary dysplasia and intraventricular hemorrhage in preterm infants

  • David C. Kasper EMAIL logo , Thomas P. Mechtler , Judith Böhm , Ljubomir Petricevic , Andreas Gleiss , Joachim Spergser , Armin Witt , Kurt R. Herkner and Angelika Berger

Abstract

Aims: We determined the association between short-term neonatal morbidities, such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), and Ureaplasma spp. in amniotic fluid, placental and amniotic mem-brane of preterm infants.

Methods: This study enrolled 257 patients who were born by cesarean section at <34 weeks’ gestation. Patients were divided into two groups according to detection of Ureaplasma spp. by culture-based and/or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques.

Results: Significant differences were observed between both groups for all IVH (P=0.032) and IVH grades III or IV (P=0.013), as wells as for BPD [odds ratio (OR) 5.46, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.02–14.77], oxygen requirement at 28 days postnatal age (OR 1.93, 95% CI 1.00–3.70), and for death between 28 days and 36 postmenstrual weeks or BPD (OR 4.20, 95% CI 1.77–9.96). Ureaplasma spp. was a significant predictor (P<0.001) of BPD after correcting for birth weight (P=0.003) and positive pressure ventilation (P=0.001).

Conclusions: In our study population Ureaplasma spp. was associated with BPD and IVH in preterm infants even after adjustment for multiple risk factors.


Corresponding author: David C. Kasper Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine Medical University of Vienna Währinger Gürtel 18–20 A – 1090 Vienna Austria Tel.: +43/1/40400-2756 Fax: +43/1/40400-3200

Received: 2010-8-23
Revised: 2010-11-25
Accepted: 2010-12-9
Published Online: 2011-05-09
Published Online: 2011-04-29
Published in Print: 2011-05-01

©2011 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York

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