Assessment of various diagnostic methods of ureaplasma respiratory tract infections in newborns

We compared three methods used microbial culturing for detection of ureaplasmas in endotracheal aspirate from 500 prematurely born neonates with respiratory disturbances: BioMerieux test, PCR and microbial culturing. Ureaplasmas were detected in respiratory tracts of 79 (16%) newborns. Correlation of the results of culture with those obtained with the BioMerieux kit, culture with PCR and BioMerieux kit with PCR was 97%, 89% and 90%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of PCR in comparison with culture was 86% and 98%, respectively, and of the BioMerieux kit 96% and 98%. PCR can be recommended in rapid diagnostics of respiratory infections in newborns suffering from respiratory disorders. It allows the detection of ureaplasmas in case of parallel infections and identification of their species

Evaluation of vertical transmission of two species of Ureaplasmas in term newborns without respiratory disorders – a preliminary study

Abstract Pregnancy promotes ureaplasma vaginal colonization. This creates the possibility of vertical transmission of these organisms to the child. These microorganisms can cause complications during pregnancy and poor condition of newborn. Objectives: Objectives of this study were to analyze the vertical transmission of different species of ureaplasmas in term newborns without respiratory distress. Materials and Methods: The study included 50 mothers and 50 of their newborn children. Swabs were obtained from swabs of the cervix in women and tracheal aspirates from neonates. The presence of ureaplasmas was confirmed by culture and PCR. Ureaplasmas species identification was performed using PCR. Results: infection of ureaplasmas was found in 21 women (42%). Predominant species was U.parvum, which was found in 18 women. In 3 patients only the presence of U.urealyticum was confirmed. Ureaplasma infection in mother and her newborn baby was confirmed in 8 (17.4%) mother-child pairs, including 6 of these cases showing the presence of U.parvum and 2 U.urealyticum. The incidence of vertical transmission of ureaplasma infection was assessed at 33% for U.parvum and 67% for U.urealyticum, and the total for both species at 38%. It should be noted that in the group of 18 women infected with U.parvum, in 12 cases there was no transmission of infection to the child. However, in 3 women infected with U.urealyticum 2 cases of transmission from mother to child were observed (67%). Although the group infected with U.urealyticum accounted for only 3 women, our preliminary observations may suggest that this species is probably more likely to be transferred from mother to child. Conclusions: Infection with U.urealyticum may be more frequently transferred from the genital tract of mother to child

Occurrence of Ureaplasma parvum and Ureaplasma urealyticum in Women with Cervical Dysplasia in Katowice, Poland

The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of genital mycoplasmas, especially Ureaplasma parvum and Ureaplasma urealyticum, in women with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS), low grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL) and high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL), compared to women with normal cytology living in Katowice, Poland. Two sterile swabs were used to obtain material from the posterior vaginal fornix of 143 women with squamous intraepithelial lesions and 39 healthy women: first for general bacteriology, second for detection of urogenital mycoplasmas using Mycoplasma IST2 kit. From each positive Mycoplasma IST2 culture DNA was isolated and PCR was performed for identification of U. parvum and U. urealyticum. Mycoplasma IST was positive in 34.1% cases. Urogenital mycoplasmas were demonstrated in women with HSIL significantly more often compared to women with LSIL, ASCUS, and with normal cytology. DNA of U. parvum was demonstrated in majority of Mycoplasma IST2-positive cases, U. urealyticum DNA-only in 9 (4.9%). Predominance of 3/14 serovars of U. parvum was demonstrated. U. urealyticum biovar 2 was present more often in women with squamous intraepithelial lesions