In utero exposure to Ureaplasma spp. is associated with increased rate of bronchopulmonary dysplasia and intraventricular hemorrhage in preterm infants

AIMS: We determined the association between short-term neonatal morbidities, such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), and Ureaplasma spp. in amniotic fluid, placental and amniotic membrane of preterm infants. METHODS: This study enrolled 257 patients who were born by cesarean section at <34 weeks' gestation. Patients were divided into two groups according to detection of Ureaplasma spp. by culture-based and/or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed between both groups for all IVH (P=0.032) and IVH grades III or IV (P=0.013), as wells as for BPD [odds ratio (OR) 5.46, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.02-14.77], oxygen requirement at 28 days postnatal age (OR 1.93, 95% CI 1.00-3.70), and for death between 28 days and 36 postmenstrual weeks or BPD (OR 4.20, 95% CI 1.77-9.96). Ureaplasma spp. was a significant predictor (P<0.001) of BPD after correcting for birth weight (P=0.003) and positive pressure ventilation (P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In our study population Ureaplasma spp. was associated with BPD and IVH in preterm infants even after adjustment for multiple risk factors.