[Colonisation of the airways with ureaplasma urealyticum as a risk factor for bronchopulmonary dysplasia in VLBW infants?].
BACKGROUND
Chronic inflammatory processes contribute to the pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). We hypothesized colonisation with Ureaplasma urealyticum (Uu) as a possible reason for an increased risk of developing prolonged oxygen dependency > 28 days in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.


METHODS
From January 1998 to November 1999 pharyngeal swabs were prospectively obtained and tested for Uu at birth and then weekly in VLBW infants. The following variables were compared between Uu-positive and Uu-negative infants: prenatal corticosteroids, maternal infections, mode of delivery, gestational age, birth weight, gender distribution, RDS, surfactant therapy, maximum inspiratory oxygen concentration during the first 24 and 48 hours, duration of oxygen supplementation beyond day 28, PDA, and weight differences during the first week of life.


RESULTS
Of a total of 74 infants, 17 were found to be Uu-positive. The latter group showed a lower mean gestational age (29; 25 - 37 vs. 28; 24 - 34 WOG; p = 0.02) and a longer duration of oxygen supplementation after day 28 (0; 0 - 121 vs. 5; 0 - 134 d; p = 0.02). All other variables did not differ significantly between both groups. Multivariate analyses identified the variables birth weight and colonisation with Uu as risk factors for a longer period of oxygen dependency after day 28 (p < 0.01; p = 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
These data indicate a correlation between the colonisation with Uu and prolonged oxygen dependency > 28 days.
Ruf
B
B
Zentrum für Kinderheilkunde und Jugendmedizin, Abteilung für Neonatologie und Intensivmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Giessen, Germany.
Klauwer
D
D
Reiss
I
I
Schiefer
H G
HG
Gortner
L
L
D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; D010614:Pharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D016869:Ureaplasma Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D016990:Ureaplasma urealyticum / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014774:Virulence