Mycoplasma hominis in mid-trimester amniotic fluid: relation to pregnancy outcome.
OBJECTIVE
The relationship between detection of Mycoplasma hominis in mid-trimester amniotic fluid and subsequent pregnancy outcome was investigated.


METHODS
Amniotic fluids from 456 women of European background who underwent a transabdominal amniocentesis at weeks 15-17 of pregnancy were tested for M. hominis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The amplicons were hybridized to an internal probe and detected by ELISA. Pregnancy outcomes and clinical data were subsequently obtained.


RESULTS
M. hominis were identified in 29 (6.4%) of the amniotic fluids. The rate of preterm labor in women positive for M. hominis (14.3%) was higher than in the negative women (3.3%) (p=0.01). Similarly, a spontaneous preterm birth with intact membranes occurred in 10.7% of the M. hominis-positive women as opposed to only 1.9% of the negative women (p = 0.02). The presence of this mycoplasma was not correlated with fetal chromosomal aberrations, intrauterine growth restriction or preeclampsia.


CONCLUSIONS
Detection of M. hominis in second-trimester amniotic fluids can identify women at increased risk for subsequent preterm labor and delivery.
Nguyen
Daniel P
DP
Division of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York 10021, USA.
Gerber
Stefan
S
Hohlfeld
P
P
Sandrine
Gremlich
G
Witkin
Steven S
SS
D000328:Adult; D000649:Amniocentesis; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D019535:Mycoplasma hominis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000209:etiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology
D004269:DNA, Bacterial