Ureaplasma urealyticum pneumonia and isolation of U-urealyticum from endotracheal tube aspirates of preterm and full-term infants

Objective: Our purpose was to investigate how many preterm infants with a b irth weight less than or equal to 1,250 g and how many newborns with one >1 ,250 g with clinical symptoms had Ureaplasma urealyticum in their endotrach eal tube aspirates, and how many of them had pneumonia. Methods: The patien ts were divided into two groups (group 1: birth weight less than or equal t o 1,250 g, n = 25; group 2: birth weight >1,250 g, n = 45), and these two g roups were subdivided into two subgroups (subgroup a: U. urealyticum in asp irate without pneumonia; subgroup b: U. urealyticum in aspirate with pneumo nia). Results: In group 1, there were 25 patients. Nine patients (36%) had U. urealyticum in their aspirates, 5 patients (20%) had pneumonia (group 1b ), and 4 patients (16%) did not (group 1a). Infants with pneumonia showed a significant increase in parameters of mechanical ventilation, in the durat ion of mechanical ventilation, and in the duration of oxygen dependence as compared with subgroup la. In group 2, there were 45 patients. Six patients of group 2 (13%) had U. urealyticum in their aspirates, 2 patients (4.4%) had a pneumonia (group 2b), and 4 patients (8.8%) did not (group 2b). Concl usions: In preterm infants as well as in term newborns one should consider U. urealyticum as a potential cause of neonatal pneumonia. Copyright (C) 19 99 S. Karger AG, Basel.