Chronic lung disease of the newborn is not associated with Ureaplasma urealyticum

To clarify the association of Ureaplasma urealyticum infection with chronic lung disease of the newborn 145 preterm infants less than 34 weeks of gestation were examined. The infants were enrolled during two separate periods. The presence of U. urealyticum was studied by obtaining endotracheal culture samples and blood samples; if either of these samples grew the organism, the child was regarded as having U. urealyticum infection. Infection with U. urealyticum was detected in 33%, and chronic lung disease (defined as the need for oxygen, and typical chest radiograph at 28 days of age) in 43% of infants. The development of chronic lung disease was not associated with the presence of U. urealyticum. Our results suggest only a minor indirect role for U. urealyticum in the development of chronic lung disease of the newborn.