title: Prevalence and influence of Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum in 218 African pregnant women and their infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence of Ureaplasma urealyticum (Uu) and Mycoplasma hominis (Mh) in the lower genital tract of pregnant women, their evolution during pregnancy, and the effect of these pathogens on the outcome of pregnancy in Equatorial Africa.
  
  
  METHODS
  218 pregnant women were followed from before 20 weeks gestational age through delivery. Samples were taken from the cervix at every visit and from the newborn at delivery and tested for Uu and Mh. The data were analysed using Student's t-test, the Mann-Whitney, or the chi 2-test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of cervical colonization by Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis in pregnant women was 79% and 41% respectively. Colonization with Uu and Mh increased significantly throughout pregnancy (P < 0.001). Their presence was associated with lower gestational age at delivery, lower birth weight and increased neonatal morbidity and mortality (P < 0.05). Erythromycin therapy did not have any effect on the evolution of Uu and Mh colonization during pregnancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Uu and Mh are additional factors that might contribute to poor pregnancy outcome in a country where neonatal health is already impaired by many other microorganism.
authors: Centre International de Recherche Medicale de Franceville (C.I.R.M.F), Gabon, France.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Luton
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Ville
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Luton-Sigy
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Cousin
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Narraido
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Fassasi-Jarretou
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Escarguel
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D015995:Prevalence; D016869:Ureaplasma Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016990:Ureaplasma urealyticum