Ureaplasma urealyticum in the development of postpartum endometritis.
OBJECTIVE
Investigation of the clinical significance of Ureaplasma urealyticum and its biovars in the development of postpartum endometritis.


METHODS
Cervical swabs were cultured for U. urealyticum in women presenting endometritis. The positive U. urealyticum cultures (>10(5) cfu/ml) (study group) were compared with those from women without endometritis (control group). Anti-Ureaplasma antibodies were measured and U. urealyticum biovars were determined by polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
There was no difference between the prevalence of U. urealyticum in the cervical swabs of both groups, however, the number of cfu per culture, showed a significant difference between study and control groups. Out of the culture positive endometritis patients 39% (26/67) had >10(5) cfu/ml compared to 17% of control patients (5/30) P=0.03. No significant disparity between both the groups was found in the prevalence of the parvo biovar (77% versus 71.5%, respectively). The difference in anti-Ureaplasma antibodies reached no statistical significance (30% versus 18% in study and control groups, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The significant difference in U. urealyticum culture cfu between both groups suggests that U. urealyticum may play a role in the etiology of this infection. This involvement is dependent not only on the presence or absence of U. urealyticum in the culture, but on its colonization rate in the cervix (>10(5) cfu/ml).
Chaim
Walter
W
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka University Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, PO Box 151, Beer-Sheva 84101, Israel. walter@bgumail.bgu.ac.il
Horowitz
Shulamith
S
David
Juri Bar
JB
Ingel
Frida
F
Evinson
Bela
B
Mazor
Moshe
M
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000382:microbiology*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D016869:Ureaplasma Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D016990:Ureaplasma urealyticum / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents