[Infection of Ureaplasma urealyticum between parents and their newborns].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship of ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) infection between parents and their newborns, and the possible influence of the modes of delivery on infants UU infection.

METHODS

The cervical swab samples were obtained from 157 pregnant women around 32-36 gestational weeks for the determination of UU by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In those UU positive cases, swab samples were taken both from the their husbands' urethra and the their newborns' throat after delivery.

RESULTS

UU was detected in 27 pregnant women (17.2%), among which it was positive in 66.7% of their husbands, 55.6% of the neonates. Out of the 9 infected women whose husbands were negative only 2 neonates were positive, while 72.2% (13/18) of the neonates found UU infection when both of their parents were positive (P < 0.05). The positive rate of neonates was 47.1% in the group of vaginal delivery and 70.0% in the cesarean section group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The neonatal UU infection is strongly associated with UU infection of their parents, and it is mainly an intrauterine infection rather than infection aquired during delivery.