The detection rate of Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis in patients with impending preterm birth and mid-trimester cervical swab

Kim, Mi Ju; Choi, Min Hye; Seong, Won Joon; Koo, Tae Bon; Park, Il Soo

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the risk of preterm birth in pregnant women with Ureaplasma urealyticum and/or Mycoplasma hominis infection and the prevalence of these organisms in normal pregnancy.
METHODS
Between February 2002 and July 2002, we included 43 pregnant women prior to 37 weeks of gestation with definite gross leakage of amniotic fluid (n=16) (group 1), 47 healthy women without any obstetric problems between 18 and 24 weeks of gestation (group 2) and 64 women who delivered fullterm fetuses who had taken cervical swabs around 36 weeks gestation (group 3). Cervical swabs (Dacron(R)) were taken on admission in group 1 and at outpatients in group 2 and 3. Detections of U. urealyticum and M. hominis were done using commercial kits (MYCOFAST(R) Evolution 2, International Microbio Signes, France).
RESULTS
There was no significant difference between mid-gestation (group 2) and fullterm (group 3) in cervical swab result. In group 1, the detection rate of Ureaplasma uealyticum was higher in impending preterm birth over 32 weeks of gestational age (15/20, 75%) than 32 weeks or less (10/ 23, 43.4%) (p<0.05). In group 2, there was no significant difference in preterm birth rate between the exposed and the non-exposed to U. urealyticum and/or M. hominis in middle of 2nd trimester.
CONCLUSION
U. urealyticum does not seem to be a predictor of preterm birth, and there seems to be some different mechanism according to gestational age. We couldn't varify that M. Hominis and U. urealyticum were related to preterm birth, although U. urealyticum was highly detected in impending preterm birth.