RADIOGRAPHIC CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH TRACHEAL ISOLATION OF UREAPLASMA-UREALYTICUM FROM NEONATES

Recent studies show an association between the presence of Ureaplasma urealyticum in tracheal aspirates and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. We h ypothesized that among infants with birth weights less-than-or-equal-t o 1,250 g and respiratory disease, those with U. urealyticum in their tracheal aspirates would have radiographic evidence of more-severe pul monary disease more often than would those without this organism. A to tal of 292 low-birth-weight infants who had endotracheal aspirate cult ured within 7 days of birth were enrolled. The radiographic outcome va riables were pneumonia, early severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (preco cious), and chronic lung disease. Microorganisms were isolated from 12 8 infants (44%); U. urealyticum was isolated from 44 (15%). Pneumonia was significantly more common in infants with than without U. urealyti cum (30% vs. 16%, P = .03). U. urealyticum also was associated with pr ecocious bronchopulmonary dysplasia independent of prematurity, race, and sex (odds ratio, 2.2; P < .05). Tracheal isolation of U. urealytic um within 7 days of birth is associated with pneumonia and precocious bronchopulmonary dysplasia.