Colonization of Newborn Infants by Mycoplasmas

Abstract

Mycoplasmas were isolated from 22 per cent and 12 per cent of newborn infants with birth weights less or greater than 2.5 kg, respectively. Most isolates were identified as "T strains," and the rest as Mycoplasma hominis. Two major sites of colonization were the pharynx and the external genitalia in females. Infants positive during the first week of life remained positive, some throughout a ten-month follow-up period, but follow-up cultures in seven of 52 initially negative infants yielded mycoplasmas. Isolation of mycoplasma was associated with low birth weight: mycoplasma-positive infants had a mean weight of 2605 gm, and mycoplasma-negative neonates a mean weight of 2952 gm (p less than 0.01). Isolation of mycoplasma was also associated with prolonged rupture of fetal membranes in low-birthweight infants and with maternal fever, but not with race, maternal age or parity, or complications of earlier pregnancies, including abortions. Colonization of neonates with mycoplasmas apparently occurs during the birth process. No evidence of neonatal disease due to these agents was noted.