UREAPLASMA-UREALYTICUM AS A CAUSE OF PNEUMONIA IN PRETERM INFANTS - ANALYSIS OF THE WHITE CELL RESPONSE

The tracheal isolation of Ureaplasma urealyticum from critically ill i nfants was investigated to determine if the organism was associated wi th an inflammatory response. Twenty nine neonates consecutively admitt ed for acute respiratory disease, with birthweights of < 1301 g and no evidence of viral, chlamydial, or bacterial infections, were identifi ed. Culture results for ureaplasmas were correlated with white cell co unts and clinical and radiographic features. Sixteen infants had trach eal aspirates and/or blood specimens positive for U urealyticum. Pneum onia was diagnosed more frequently in the U urealyticum positive infan ts than in the 13 who were negative for the organism. The mean total w hite cell count, absolute neutrophil, and band form counts were signif icantly higher in the U urealyticum positive group than in the negativ e group. These data suggest that U urealyticum can induce an inflammat ory response in selected individuals who present with clinical, radiog raphic, and, in some instances, histological features of pneumonia.