[Mycoplasmas and pregnancy]

Abstract

The pathogenic role of mycoplasms during pregnancy remains quite controverted, depending on the studies; for some it has an incidence on prematurity, delayed growth in utero and premature rupture of the membranes. The purpose of this study was, from a population of patients with term delivery, without any specific pathology, to verify the frequency of mothers carrying Mycoplasma Hominis or ureaplasma, and to determine the possible consequences on the newborn. A linear analysis of the evolution of the samples between D0 and D6 in the mother and the new born, shows that the presence of mycoplasms in the genital passages is as frequent in this non-risk population, and that the child may be contaminated about every other time; but this contamination appears to be very transient and without any consequences on the immediate neo-natal pathology. Systematic screening of genital mycoplasms in pregnant women does not permit, therefore, to select a group of exposed patients. In newborns who are contaminated, the risk of infection appears to be very low, but it would perhaps be desirable to study the long range future evolution of healthy carriers.