Association of genital mycoplasma colonization with low birth weight

Objective: This study was conducted to document the prevalence of maternal genital tract colonization by Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis , and to assess its association with low birth weight (LBW) and prematurity . Methods: The high vaginal swabs of pregnant women in spontaneous labor af ter 26 weeks of gestation were cultured for U. urealyticum and M. hominis. Clinical details and perinatal outcomes including birth weight and gestatio n were documented. Results: Of a total of 303 women enrolled, 148 (48.8%) h ad positive vaginal cultures for U. urealyticum, while only five (1.6%) gre w M. hominis. The mean birth weight and the incidences of LBW and preterm n eonates among ureaplasma positive and ureaplasma negative mothers were stat istically comparable. Conclusions: U. urealyticum emerged as a common inhab itant of the lower genital tract of women in labor, being present in nearly half of them. Its presence was not a risk factor of LBW or prematurity. Ma ternal colonization with M. hominis was uncommon. (C) 1998 International Fe deration of Gynecology and Obstetrics.