Premium
Association of genital mycoplasma colonization with low birth weight
Author(s) -
Paul V.K,
Gupta U,
Singh M,
Nag V.L,
Takkar D,
Bhan M.K
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1016/s0020-7292(98)00135-0
Subject(s) - ureaplasma urealyticum , mycoplasma hominis , medicine , low birth weight , obstetrics , ureaplasma , gestation , birth weight , mycoplasmataceae , mycoplasma , sex organ , colonization , gynecology , pregnancy , mollicutes , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics
Objective: This study was conducted to document the prevalence of maternal genital tract colonization by Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis , and to assess its association with low birth weight (LBW) and prematurity. Methods: The high vaginal swabs of pregnant women in spontaneous labor after 26 weeks of gestation were cultured for U. urealyticum and M. hominis . Clinical details and perinatal outcomes including birth weight and gestation were documented. Results: Of a total of 303 women enrolled, 148 (48.8%) had positive vaginal cultures for U. urealyticum , while only five (1.6%) grew M. hominis . The mean birth weight and the incidences of LBW and preterm neonates among ureaplasma positive and ureaplasma negative mothers were statistically comparable. Conclusions: U. urealyticum emerged as a common inhabitant of the lower genital tract of women in labor, being present in nearly half of them. Its presence was not a risk factor of LBW or prematurity. Maternal colonization with M. hominis was uncommon.