Isolation pattern and clinical outcome of genital mycoplasma in neonates from a tertiary care neonatal unit.

The role of genital mycoplasma in perinatal mortality and morbidity has been debated. This study was undertaken to determine the frequency of isolation of genital mycoplasma and evaluate its association with clinical outcome. Sixty-six cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and 49 tracheal aspirates taken from 100 low birthweight infants who had suspected meningitis and/or respiratory distress respectively were cultured for genital mycoplasma. Ureaplasma urealyticum was isolated from 9 per cent of CSF and 14 per cent of tracheal aspirates. Mycoplasma hominis was isolated from CSF in one case and none at the tracheal aspirates. Three out of seven mycoplasma-infected CNS cases showed CSF pleocytosis while three out of seven patients whose tracheal aspirates grew mycoplasma had congenital pneumonia. None of the patients were treated with antimycoplasmal therapy and none developed chronic lung disease.