BMJ 1994;308:787-788 (19 March)

Letters

Bacterial vaginosis and preterm delivery Bacteria may contribute to lung disease in neonates

EDITOR, - Phillip E Hay and colleagues' report on abnormal bacterial colonisation of the genital tract and preterm labour.1 The association between infection and preterm labour has been widely reported, with the genital mycoplasmas (Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis) often being implicated.2 Many of the preterm infants need ventilation, and a considerable number develop chronic lung disease. In our unit in 1993 there were 84 survivors of <=30 weeks' gestation, of whom 41 developed chronic lung disease. The aetiology of this disease is multifactorial, with gestation and positive pressure ventilation being the most important determinants.

In a pilot study of the incidence of ureaplasma and mycoplasma infections the endotracheal secretions of all intubated neonates of <=30 weeks' gestation (n=63) were examined weekly from birth while the neonates remained intubated. Sixteen of the infants were positive for one or both organisms, with 11 yielding positive results on the first culture. Fifteen . . . [Full text of this article]


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Complore Complore   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to StumbleUpon StumbleUpon   Add to Technorati Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Articles

Confirm diagnosis before giving thrombolytic treatment
N Milliet, C Diem, K Hayoz, F Sadry, E Herrera, and V Phillips
BMJ 1994 308: 1159-1160. [Extract] [Full Text]

Abnormal bacterial colonisation of the genital tract and subsequent preterm delivery and late miscarriage
P E Hay, R F Lamont, D Taylor-Robinson, D J Morgan, C Ison, and J Pearson
BMJ 1994 308: 295-298. [Abstract] [Full Text]

This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Milliet, N, Diem, C, Hayoz, K, Sadry, F, Herrera, E, Phillips, V (1994). Confirm diagnosis before giving thrombolytic treatment. BMJ 308: 1159-1160 [Full text]  
Access jobs at BMJ Careers
Whats new online at Student BMJ