Chronic lung disease of preterm infants in Finland is not associated with Ureaplasma urealyticum colonization
Related Experiment Videos
H Saxén1, K Hakkarainen, M Pohjavuori
1Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Insights
Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis are common in preterm infant airways. However, Ureaplasma colonization does not significantly contribute to chronic lung disease development in this population.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Microbiology
- Pediatric Pulmonology
Background:
- Preterm infants are susceptible to respiratory infections.
- Chronic lung disease (CLD) is a significant comorbidity in extremely preterm infants.
- The role of airway microorganisms like Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis in CLD pathogenesis is debated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis in the airways of preterm infants.
- To determine the association between Ureaplasma colonization and the development of chronic lung disease in this cohort.
Main Methods:
- Tracheal aspirates were collected from 49 preterm infants (gestational age < 30 weeks).
- Samples were cultured for Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis.
- Infant outcomes regarding chronic lung disease were monitored.
Main Results:
- Ureaplasma urealyticum was detected in 29% of infants, and Mycoplasma hominis in 2%.
- Of 16 infants who developed CLD, 38% were positive for Ureaprealyticum.
- However, the incidence of Ureaplasma in CLD infants was not significantly higher than expected, and 8 infants without CLD were positive for Ureaplasma.
Conclusions:
- Airway colonization with Ureaplasma urealyticum does not appear to play a significant role in the development of chronic lung disease in preterm infants.
- Further research may be needed to explore other etiological factors for CLD in this population.
Abstract:
The occurrence of Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis in the airways and the association of these microorganisms with chronic lung disease was studied in preterm infants with a gestational age less than 30 weeks. Tracheal aspirates from 49 preterm infants were cultured; 14 (29%) infants were positive for U. urealyticum, and 1 (2%) was positive for M. hominis. Of the 16 patients who developed lung disease, 6 (38%) were positive for U. urealyticum, while the expected number of Ureaplasma-positive patients in this group, based on the overall incidence of Ureaplasma, was 4.6. On the other hand, 8 patients were positive for U. urealyticum but did not develop chronic lung disease, nor did samples taken from 10 patients with chronic lung disease show any Ureaplasma growth. From these data we conclude that colonization of the airways with U. urealyticum has no significant role in the development of chronic lung disease in preterm infants in the Finnish (Caucasian) population.