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Mycoplasma hominis and intrauterine infection in late pregnancy
Abstract:
Amniotic fluid was collected via a transcervical intrauterine catheter from patients with clinical evidence of intrauterine infection and from uninfected comparison patients. The amniotic fluid was cultured for Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum, as well as for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Two series of patients are reported. In the first, there were 52 patients with intraamniotic infection and 52 matched controls. Eighteen patients (35%) with intraamniotic infection and four control patients (8%) had M. hominis in the amniotic fluid (P less than .001). Twenty-six patients (50%) with intraamniotic infection and 26 control patients (50%) had U. urealyticum in the amniotic fluid. In the second series, samples were collected consecutively. M. hominis was isolated from 32% (19/60) of specimens from patients with signs of infection and from 14% (8/56) of afebrile comparison patients (P less than .02). U. urealyticum was recovered from 43% and 39% of these fluids, respectively; the difference was not significant. When M. hominis was found in amniotic fluids of patients with signs of infection, the amniotic fluid usually contained greater than or equal to 10(2) cfu of a high virulent bacterial isolate per milliliter. Qualitative cultures showed that M. hominis in the amniotic fluid is associated with clinical intrauterine infection.
Insights
Mycoplasma hominis in amniotic fluid is linked to intrauterine infections. This study found higher M. hominis levels in infected patients, suggesting its role in clinical infection.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Intrauterine infection poses risks during pregnancy.
- The role of specific microorganisms like Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum in intraamniotic infection requires further clarification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum in amniotic fluid and clinical evidence of intrauterine infection.
- To determine if M. hominis presence in amniotic fluid correlates with infection severity.
Main Methods:
- Amniotic fluid samples were collected from infected and uninfected pregnant patients.
- Cultures were performed to detect Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, and other bacteria.
- Statistical analysis compared the prevalence of these microorganisms in infected versus control groups.
Main Results:
- Mycoplasma hominis was significantly more prevalent in amniotic fluid from patients with intraamniotic infection (35%) compared to controls (8%) in the first series (P < .001).
- In the second series, M. hominis was isolated from 32% of infected patients versus 14% of controls (P < .02).
- Ureaplasma urealyticum showed no significant difference in prevalence between infected and control groups.
Conclusions:
- Mycoplasma hominis in amniotic fluid is strongly associated with clinical intrauterine infection.
- The presence of M. hominis, often with high bacterial loads, indicates a significant link to intraamniotic infection.