Ureaplasma urealyticum asacause ofpneumonia in preterm infants: analysis ofthewhite cell response

Thetracheal isolation ofUreaplasma urealyticum fromcritically illinfants was investigated todetermine iftheorganism was associated withan inflammatory response. Twentynineneonates consecutivelyadmittedforacuterespiratory disease, withbirthweights of<1301gand noevidence ofviral, chlamydial, orbacterial infections, wereidentified. Culture results forureaplasmas werecorrelated withwhitecelil countsandclinical and radiographic features. Sixteen infants had tracheal aspirates and/or bloodspecimens positive forU urealyticum. Pneumonia was diagnosed more frequently in the U urealyticum positive infants thaninthe 13whowerenegative fortheorganism. The mean totalwhitecellcount,absolute neutrophil, andbandformcountswere significantly higher intheU urealyticum positive groupthaninthenegative group. Thesedatasuggest thatU urealyticum caninduceaninflammatory response in selected individuals who presentwith clinical, radiographic, and,in some instances, histological features ofpneumonia. DisChild 1995; 73:F37-F40)