J Perinat Med. 2025 Nov 19. doi: 10.1515/jpm-2025-0321. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Existing studies yielded conflicting evidence regarding the associations between genital tract microbial and funisitis, chorioamnionitis and adverse pregnancy outcomes. This study aims to provide additional evidence for their association through systematic investigation.
METHODS: A total of 98 FFPE umbilical cord specimens confirmed as funisitis and chorioamnionitis through histopathological examination were tested for seven genital tract microorganisms using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Electronic medical records of mothers and neonates were retrieved to analyze the risk associations between microorganism-positive cases and chorioamnionitis as well as adverse pregnancy outcomes. The umbilical cord samples with Ureaplasma parvum positive had been sequenced for serovars analysis.
RESULTS: Ureaplasma parvum (UP), Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU), Group B Streptococcus (GBS) and Mycoplasma homini s (MH) were all detected in the study with prevalence of 36.5 %, 7.9 %, 18.6 %, and 5.8 %, respectively, while Mycoplasma genitalium (MG), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) were not detected. Ureaplasma spp. were identified as the predominant microorganisms detected in 98 umbilical cord cases by using qPCR, demonstrating concordance with clinical vaginal swab findings from pregnant women. Genital microorganisms infection was associated with high stage chorioamnionitis (p = 0.0254) and adverse pregnant outcomes (p = 0.0053). In addition, the prevalence of U. parvum demonstrated a strong significant association with neonatal pneumonia (p = 0.0037).
CONCLUSIONS: Umbilical cord specimens tested positive for U. parvum demonstrated a significant association with adverse perinatal outcomes and neonatal pneumonia. Additional studies are warranted to investigate the determinants enabling commensal U. parvum in the genital tract to ascend and induce intrauterine infection, thereby leading to adverse clinical outcomes.
PMID:41251691 | DOI:10.1515/jpm-2025-0321
