Isolation pattern and clinical outcome of genital mycoplasma in neonates from a tertiary care neonatal unit

The role of genital mycoplasma in perinatal mortality and morbidity has bee n debated. This study was undertaken to determine the frequency of isolatio n of genital mycoplasma and evaluate its association with clinical outcome. Sixty-six cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and 49 tracheal aspirates taken from 1 00 low birthweight infants who had suspected meningitis and/or respiratory distress respectively were cultured for genital mycoplasma. Ureaplasma urea lyticum was isolated from 9 per cent of CSF and 14 per cent of tracheal asp irates. Mycoplasma hominis was isolated from CSF in one case and none at th e tracheal aspirates. Three out of seven mycoplasma-infected CNS cases show ed CSF pleocytosis while three out of seven patients whose tracheal aspirat es grew mycoplasma had congenital pneumonia. None of the patients were trea ted with antimycoplasmal therapy and none developed chronic lung disease.