Detection of Ureaplasma urealyticum in second-trimester amniotic fluid by polymerase chain reaction correlates with subsequent preterm labor and delivery. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Ureaplasma urealyticum is the microorganism most frequently isolated from the amniotic fluid of women in preterm labor. The relationship between intra-amniotic U. urealyticum in healthy second-trimester pregnant women and subsequent pregnancy outcome was investigated. Transabdominal amniotic fluid obtained from 254 asymptomatic women at 15-17 weeks' gestation were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). U. urealyticum was identified in 29 subjects (11.4%). A subsequent preterm labor occurred in 17 U. urealyticum-positive women (58.6%), compared with 10 (4.4%) U. urealyticum-negative women (P<.0001). Preterm birth was documented in 7 (24.1%) U. urealyticum-positive women compared with only 1 U. urealyticum-negative woman (0.4%) (P<.0001). U. urealyticum-positive women also had a higher prevalence of preterm labor in a prior pregnancy (20.7%) than did the negative women (2.7%; P=.0008). PCR testing of second-trimester amniotic fluid for U. urealyticum can identify women at risk for subsequent preterm labor and delivery.

publication date

  • January 24, 2003

Research

keywords

  • Amniotic Fluid
  • Delivery, Obstetric
  • Obstetric Labor, Premature
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious
  • Ureaplasma Infections
  • Ureaplasma urealyticum

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0037312463

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1086/368205

PubMed ID

  • 12552439

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 187

issue

  • 3