title: Association between maternal genital mycoplasma colonization and histologic chorioamnionitis in preterm births.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Genital mycoplasmas (GMs) can be associated with chorioamnionitis and preterm birth, but are viewed as commensal organisms with low virulence. We sought to determine if cervical GM colonization is associated with histologic chorioamnionitis independent of infection with other bacteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study of patients who delivered preterm, had cervical cultures for GMs, and placental cultures for bacteria other than GM. GM positive patients were compared to GM negative patients. Histologic grading of placentas was compared between GM negative patients with negative placental cultures (Group 1), GM positive patients with negative placental cultures (Group 2), GM negative patients with positive placental cultures (Group 3) and GM positive patients with positive placental cultures (Group 4).
  
  
  RESULTS
  GM positive patients were less likely than GM negative patients to have placental cultures positive for other bacteria (39% versus 47%, P = 0.0071). Group 2 had higher rates of membrane inflammation compared to Group 1 (p = 0.0079), and no significant difference in rates of membrane inflammation compared to Groups 3 or 4 (p = 0.36, p = 0.18). GM positivity was independently associated with increased membrane inflammation and decreased inflammation in the chorionic plate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GM colonization is associated decreased inflammation of the chorionic plate, and increased inflammation of the membranes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Stirling
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford, CT, USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Campbell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010920:Placenta / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Chorioamnionitis; Mycoplasma hominis; Ureaplasma urealyticum; genital mycoplasma; placental inflammation; prematurity