Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Congenital and Perinatal Infections pp 271–288Cite as

Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma

  • Chapter

Part of the book series: Infectious Disease ((ID))

Abstract

The concept that Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma spp could be important pathogens that may affect pregnancy outcomes and the health of neonates was first given serious consideration in the 1960s and early 1970s when reports of postpartum endometritis with septicemia, chorioamnionitis, and low birth weight caused by these organisms began to appear and a treatment trial of pregnant women given tetracycline showed a significant beneficial effect on birth weight for their infants (1–4). Since those days, a great many more case reports have been described, and numerous clinical studies have been performed in an attempt to clarify what roles, if any, these organisms play as agents responsible for invasive infections in neonates, premature labor, spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, and chronic lung disease of prematurity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Tully JG, Smith LG. Postpartum septicemia with Mycoplasma hominis. JAMA 1968;204:827–828.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Shurin PA, Alpert S, Bernard Rosner BA, Driscoll SG, Lee YH. Chorioamnionitis and colonization of the newborn infant with genital mycoplasmas. N Engl J Med 1975;293:5–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Klein JO, Buckland D, Finland M. Colonization of newborn infants by mycoplasmas. N Engl J Med 1969;280:1025–1030.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Elder HA, Santamarina BA, Smith S, Kass EH. The natural history of asymptomatic bacteriuria during pregnancy: the effect of tetracycline on the clinical course and the outcome of pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1971;111:441–462.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Cassell GH, Waites KB, Crouse DT. Mycoplasmal infections. In: Remington JS, Klein JO, eds. Infectious Diseases of the Fetus and Newborn Infant, 5th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders, 2001:733–767.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Taylor-Robinson D, Ainsworth JG, McCormack WM. Genital mycoplasmas. In: Holmes KK, Mardh PA, Sparling PF, et al., eds. Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 3rd ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 1999:533–548.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Ursi D, Ursi JP, Ieven M, Docx M, Van Reempts P, Pattyn SR. Congenital pneumonia due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 1995;72:F118–F120.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Taylor-Robinson D. Mycoplasma genitalium—an up-date. Int J STD AIDS 2002;13:145–151.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Blanchard A, Hamrick W, Duffy L, Baldus K, Cassell GH. Use of the polymerase chain reaction for detection of Mycoplasma fermentans and Mycoplasma genitalium in the urogenital tract and amniotic fluid. Clin Infect Dis 1993;17(Suppl 1):S272–S279.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Labbe AC, Frost E, Deslandes S, Mendonca AP, Alves AC, Pepin J. Mycoplasma genitalium is not associated with adverse outcomes of pregnancy in Guinea-Bissau. Sex Transm Infect 2002;78:289–291.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Lu GC, Schwebke JR, Duffy LB, et al. Midtrimester vaginal Mycoplasma genitalium in women with subsequent spontaneous preterm birth. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;185:163–165.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Kovachev E, Popova A, Protopopov F, Minkov R, Tsvetkova S. [Association between Mycoplasma genitalium and preterm labor]. Akush Ginekol (Sofia) 2002;41:26–29.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Luki N, Lebel P, Boucher M, Doray B, Turgeon J, Brousseau R. Comparison of polymerase chain reaction assay with culture for detection of genital mycoplasmas in perinatal infections. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 1998;17:255–263.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Waites KB, Rikihisa Y, Taylor-Robinson D. Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma. In: Murray PR, Baron EJ, Jorgensen JH, Pfaller MA, Yolken RH, eds. Manual of Clinical Microbiology, 8th ed. Washington, DC: American Society for Microbiology, 2003:972–990.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Kim M, Kim G, Romero R, Shim SS, Kim EC, Yoon BH. Biovar diversity of Ureaplasma urealyticum in amniotic fluid: distribution, intrauterine inflammatory response and pregnancy outcomes. J Perinat Med 2003;31:146–152.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Zheng X, Watson HL, Waites KB, Cassell GH. Serotype diversity and antigen variation among invasive isolates of Ureaplasma urealyticum from neonates. Infect Immunol 1992;60:3472–3474.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Abele-Horn M, Wolff C, Dressel P, Pfaff F, Zimmermann A. Association of Ureaplasma urealyticum biovars with clinical outcome for neonates, obstetric patients, and gynecological patients with pelvic inflammatory disease. J Clin Microbiol 1997;35:1199–1202.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Naessens A, Foulon W, Breynaert J, Lauwers S. Serotypes of Ureaplasma urealyticum isolated from normal pregnant women and patients with pregnancy complications. J Clin Microbiol 1988;26:319–322.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Martinez MA, Ovalle A, Santa-Cruz A, Barrera B, Vidal R, Aguirre R. Occurrence and antimicrobial susceptibility of Ureaplasma parvum (Ureaplasma urealyticum biovar 1) and Ureaplasma urealyticum (Ureaplasma urealyticum biovar 2) from patients with adverse pregnancy outcomes and normal pregnant women. Scand J Infect Dis 2001;33:604–610.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Domingues D, Tavira LT, Duarte A, Sanca A, Prieto E, Exposto F. Ureaplasma urealyticum biovar determination in women attending a family planning clinic in Guine-Bissau, using polymerase chain reaction of the multiple-banded antigen gene. J Clin Lab Anal 2002;16:71–75.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Sanchez PJ. Perinatal transmission of Ureaplasma urealyticum: current concepts based on review of the literature. Clin Infect Dis 1993;17(Suppl 1):S107–S111.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Cassell GH, Davis RO, Waites KB, et al. Isolation of Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum from amniotic fluid at 16–20 weeks of gestation: potential effect on outcome of pregnancy. Sex Transm Dis 1983;10(4 Suppl):294–302.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Carey JC, Blackwelder WC, Nugent RP, et al. Antepartum cultures for Ureaplasma urealyticum are not useful in predicting pregnancy outcome. The Vaginal Infections and Prematurity Study Group. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1991;164:728–733.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Foulon W, Naessens A, Dewaele M, Lauwers S, Amy JJ. Chronic Ureaplasma urealyticum amnionitis associated with abruptio placentae. Obstet Gynecol 1986;68:280–282.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Gray DJ, Robinson HB, Malone J, Thomson RB Jr. Adverse outcome in pregnancy following amniotic fluid isolation of Ureaplasma urealyticum. Prenat Diagn 1992;12:111–117.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Andrews WW, Shah SR, Goldenberg RL, Cliver SP, Hauth JC, Cassell GH. Association of post-cesarean delivery endometritis with colonization of the chorioamnion by Ureaplasma urealyticum. Obstet Gynecol 1995;85:509–514.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Goncalves LF, Chaiworapongsa T, Romero R. Intrauterine infection and prematurity. Ment Retard Dev Disabil Res Rev 2002;8:3–13.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Martius J, Eschenbach DA. The role of bacterial vaginosis as a cause of amniotic fluid infection, chorioamnonitis, and prematurity—a review. Arch Obstet Gynecol 1990;247:1–13.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Taylor-Robinson D, Waites K, Cassell G. Genital mycoplasmas. In: Morse SA, Ballard RC, Holmes KK, Moreland AA, eds. Atlas of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and AIDS, 3rd ed. New York: Mosby, 2003:127–139.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Hillier SL, Nugent RP, Eschenbach DA, et al. Association between bacterial vaginosis and preterm delivery of a low-birth-weight infant. The Vaginal Infections and Prematurity Study Group. N Engl J Med 1995;333:1737–1742.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Donders GG, Van Bulck B, Caudron J, Londers L, Vereecken A, Spitz B. Relationship of bacterial vaginosis and mycoplasmas to the risk of spontaneous abortion. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2000;183:431–437.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Madan E, Meyer MP, Amortegui AJ. Isolation of genital mycoplasmas and Chlamydia trachomatis in stillborn and neonatal autopsy material. Arch Pathol Lab Med 1988;112:749–751.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Kundsin RB, Driscoll SG, Monson RR, Yeh C, Biano SA, Cochran WD. Association of Ureaplasma urealyticum in the placenta with perinatal morbidity and mortality. N Engl J Med 1984;310:941–945.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Quinn PA, Butany J, Chipman M, Taylor J, Hannah W. A prospective study of microbial infection in stillbirths and early neonatal death. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1985;151:238–249.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Cassell GH, Waites KB, Crouse DT, et al. Association of Ureaplasma urealyticum infection of the lower respiratory tract with chronic lung disease and death in very-low-birth-weight infants. Lancet 1988;2:240–245.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Wang EE, Frayha H, Watts J, et al. Role of Ureaplasma urealyticum and other pathogens in the development of chronic lung disease of prematurity. Pediatr Infect Dis J 1988;7:547–551.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Sanchez PJ, Regan JA. Ureaplasma urealyticum colonization and chronic lung disease in low birth weight infants. Pediatr Infect Dis J 1988;7:542–546.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Crouse DT, Odrezin GT, Cutter GR, et al. Radiographic changes associated with tracheal isolation of Ureaplasma urealyticum from neonates. Clin Infect Dis 1993;17(Suppl 1):S122–S130.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Payne NR, Steinberg SS, Ackerman P, et al. New prospective studies of the association of Ureaplasma urealyticum colonization and chronic lung disease. Clin Infect Dis 1993;17(Suppl 1):S117–S121.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Wang EE, Ohlsson A, Kellner JD. Association of Ureaplasma urealyticum colonization with chronic lung disease of prematurity: results of a metaanalysis. J Pediatr 1995;127:640–644.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Ollikainen J, Korppi M, Heiskanen-Kosma T, Heinonen K. Chronic lung disease of the newborn is not associated with Ureaplasma urealyticum. Pediatr Pulmonol 2001;32:303–307.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Heggie AD, Bar-Shain D, Boxerbaum B, Fanaroff AA, O’Riordan MA, Robertson JA. Identification and quantification of ureaplasmas colonizing the respiratory tract and assessment of their role in the development of chronic lung disease in preterm infants. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2001;20:854–859.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Smyth AR, Shaw NJ, Pratt BC, Weindling AM. Ureaplasma urealyticum and chronic lung disease. Eur J Pediatr 1993;152:931–932.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Saxen H, Hakkarainen K, Pohjavuori M, Miettinen A. Chronic lung disease of preterm infants in Finland is not associated with Ureaplasma urealyticum colonization. Acta Paediatr 1993;82:198–201.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Berger A, Witt A, Haiden N, Kretzer V, Heinze G, Kohlhauser C. Microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity at birth is associated with adverse short-term outcome of preterm infants. J Perinat Med 2003;31:115–121.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Galetto Lacour A, Zamora S, Bertrand R, et al. [Colonization by Ureaplasma urealyticum and chronic lung disease in premature newborn infants under 32 weeks of gestation]. Arch Pediatr 2001;8:39–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Waites KB, Katz B, Schelonka R. Mycoplasmas and ureaplasmas as neonatal pathogens. Clin Microbial Rev 2005. In press.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Ollikainen J. Perinatal Ureaplasma urealyticum infection increases the need for hospital treatment during the first year of life in preterm infants. Pediatr Pulmonol 2000;30:402–405.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Rudd PT, Cassell GH, Waites KB, Davis JK, Duffy LB. Ureaplasma urealyticum pneumonia: experimental production and demonstration of age-related susceptibility. Infect Immunol 1989;57:918–925.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Viscardi RM, Kaplan J, Lovchik JC, et al. Characterization of a murine model of Ureaplasma urealyticum pneumonia. Infect Immunol 2002;70:5721–5729.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Crouse DT, Cassell GH, Waites KB, Foster JM, Cassady G. Hyperoxia potentiates Ureaplasma urealyticum pneumonia in newborn mice. Infect Immunol 1990;58:3487–3493.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Waites KB, Sims PJ, Crouse DT, et al. Serum concentrations of erythromycin after intravenous infusion in preterm neonates treated for Ureaplasma urealyticum infection. Pediatr Infect Dis J 1994;13:287–293.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Waites KB, Duffy LB, Crouse DT, et al. Mycoplasmal infections of cerebrospinal fluid in newborn infants from a community hospital population. Pediatr Infect Dis J 1990;9:241–245.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Waites KB, Rudd PT, Crouse DT, et al. Chronic Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis infections of central nervous system in preterm infants. Lancet 1988;1:17–21.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Ollikainen J, Hiekkaniemi H, Korppi M, Katila ML, Heinonen K. Ureaplasma urealyticum cultured from brain tissue of preterm twins who died of intraventricular hemorrhage. Scand J Infect Dis 1993;25:529–531.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Rao RP, Ghanayem NS, Kaufman BA, Kehl KS, Gregg DC, Chusid MJ. Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma species brain abscess in a neonate. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2002;21:1083–1085.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Miller TC, Sudhaker IB, Albers WH. Massive pericardial effusion due to Mycoplasma hominis in a newborn. Am J Dis Child 1982;136:271–272.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Glaser JB, Engelberg M, Hammerschlag M. Scalp abscess associated with Mycoplasma hominis infection complicating intrapartum monitoring. Pediatr Infect Dis 1983;2:468–470.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Hamrick HJ, Mangum ME, Katz VL. Ureaplasma urealyticum abscess at site of an internal fetal heart rate monitor. Pediatr Infect Dis J 1993;12:410–411.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Waites KB, Crouse DT, Philips JB, 3rd, Canupp KC, Cassell GH. Ureaplasmal pneumonia and sepsis associated with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn. Pediatrics 1989;83:79–85.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Brus F, van Waarde WM, Schoots C, Oetomo SB. Fatal ureaplasmal pneumonia and sepsis in a newborn infant. Eur J Pediatr 1991;150:782–783.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. Waites KB, Bebear CM, Robertson JA, Talkington DF, Kenny GE, eds. Cumitech 34, Laboratory Diagnosis of Mycoplasmal Infections. Washington, DC: American Society for Microbiology, 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  63. Waites KB, Canupp KC. Evaluation of BacT/ALERT system for detection of Mycoplasma hominis in simulated blood cultures. J Clin Microbiol 2001;39:4328–4331.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Waites KB, Talkington DF, Bebear CM. Mycoplasmas. In: Truant AL, ed. Manual of Commercial Methods in Clinical Microbiology. Washington, DC: American Society for Microbiology, 2002:201–224.

    Google Scholar 

  65. Quinn PA. Evidence of an immune response to Ureaplasma urealyticum in perinatal morbidity and mortality. Pediatr Infect Dis 1986;5(6 Suppl):S282–S287.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Laboratory Medicine, Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL

    Ken B. Waites MD

Authors
  1. Ken B. Waites MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL

    Cecelia Hutto MD

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2006 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Waites, K.B. (2006). Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma . In: Hutto, C. (eds) Congenital and Perinatal Infections. Infectious Disease. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-965-6:271

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-965-6:271

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-297-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-965-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation