Comparison of the prevalence of Mycoplasm hominis infection in pregnant women with and without preterm premature rupture of membranes and the relationship of this infection with preterm premature rupture of membranes

Preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) is defined as the rupture of the membrane before the onset of a regular uterine contraction and prior to the 37th week of gestation, which indicates a serious perinatal problem. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of cervical colonization by Mycoplasma hominis in patients with PPROM. In this case-control study, 160 pregnant women with PPROM who were within 25-37 weeks of gestation were studied at Alavi Center, Ardabil, Iran. The control group included 160 pregnant women with normal pregnancy without PROM. Cervical swabs were obtained and evaluated by polymerase chain reaction for Mycoplasma hominis. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 20), t-test, Chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests. P value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Mycoplasma hominis was detected in 17.5 % (28/160) of the patients with PPROM. In the control group, this bacteria was detected in 6.6% (10/160) of the pregnant women. The results of the odds ratio test showed that the odds ratio of Mycoplasma hominis infection in the patients with PPROM was 3.18 times more than that in the pregnant women without PPROM (95% CI: 1.4-6.8). In addition, the probabilityof developing respiratory distress syndrome in the infants of the mothers with PPROM was 3.71 times more than that in the neonates of the PPROM-free pregnant women ((95% CI: 1.9-7.12). Our results provided evidence regarding the presence of a significant association between cervical colonization with genital mycoplasmas and PPROM.