Objectives: To determine the prevalence and load of Ureaplasma spp. DNA in the cervical fluid of women with singleton pregnancies complicated by preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM) with respect to intra-amniotic infection, sterile intra-amniotic inflammation, and colonization of the amniotic fluid. Methods: A total of 217 women with PPROM between gestational ages 24 + 0 and 33 + 6 weeks were included in this study. Paired amniotic and cervical fluid samples were collected at the time of admission via transabdominal amniocentesis and using a Dacron polyester swab, respectively. Microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity was diagnosed using a combination of culture and molecular biology methods. Intra-amniotic inflammation was determined based on the concentration of interleukin-6 in the amniotic fluid. Based on the presence or absence of these conditions, the women were stratified into the following subgroups: intra-amniotic infection (with both), sterile intra-amniotic inflammation (with inflammation only), colonization (with microorganisms only), and negative amniotic fluid (without either). The Ureaplasma spp. DNA load in the cervical fluid was assessed using PCR. Results: Ureaplasma spp. DNA in the cervical fluid was found in 61% (133/217) of the women. Women with negative amniotic had similar prevalence of Ureaplasma spp. DNA in cervical fluid (55%) to those with sterile intra-amniotic inflammation (54%) but lower than those with intra-amniotic infection (73%) and colonization (86%; p < 0.0001). Women with negative amniotic fluid had a lower load of Ureaplasma spp. DNA in their cervical fluid (median: 4.7 × 103 copies of DNA/ml) than those with intra-amniotic infection (median: 2.8 × 105 copies DNA/ml), sterile intra-amniotic inflammation (median: 5.3 × 104 copies DNA/ml), and colonization (median: 1.2 × 105 copies DNA/mL; p < 0.0001). Conclusion: In conclusion, in PPROM at <34 weeks, the presence of intra-amniotic infection, sterile intra-amniotic inflammation, or colonization of the amniotic fluid was associated with a higher prevalence and/or load of Ureaplasma spp. DNA in the cervical fluid than the absence of intra-amniotic complications.

Biomedical Research Center University Hospital Hradec Kralove Hradec Kralove Czech Republic

Department of Genetics and Bioinformatics Domain of Health Data and Digitalization Institute of Public Health Oslo Norway

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Institute of Clinical Science Sahlgrenska Academy University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology University Hospital Hradec Kralove Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove Charles University Hradec Kralove Czech Republic

Department of Social Medicine Charles University Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove Hradec Kralove Czech Republic

Institute of Clinical Biochemistry and Diagnostics Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove University Hospital Hradec Kralove Charles University Hradec Kralove Czech Republic

Institute of Clinical Microbiology University Hospital Hradec Kralove Charles University Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove Hradec Kralove Czech Republic

Region Västra Götaland Sahlgrenska University Hospital Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Gothenburg Sweden

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Characterization of cervical fluid Ureaplasma species in pregnant women with spontaneous preterm delivery

Characterization of Amniotic Fluid Ureaplasma Species from Pregnancies Complicated by Preterm Prelabor Rupture of Membranes