2612. Molecular Evidence of Ureaplasma urealyticum and Ureaplasma parvum Colonization in Preterm Infants with Respiratory Distress

BACKGROUND: Ureaplasma urealyticum and Ureaplasma parvum have been associated with respiratory diseases in premature newborns, but their role in the pathogenesis of the respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is unclear. The present study was conducted to investigate preterm newborns with respiratory distress for colonization of U. urealyticum and U. parvum in endotracheal fluid (TF)/nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA) specimens employing culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). METHODS: Sixty preterm infants, presenting with respiratory distress persisting for more than 24 hours were investigated. Endotracheal fluid or nasopharyngeal aspirates specimens were inoculated in 2mL Ureaplasma broth and Ureaplasma agar for culture identification assay and PCR. DNA extracts were processed for a genus specific PCR (429 base pair region) on urease gene of U. urealyticum/U. parvum and species specific PCR (1305 base pair region) on 16S rRNA gene in U. parvum. RESULTS: Ureaplasma species colonization was positive in 11 (61.11%) male patients and7 (38.89%) females but there was no statistical association between sex and Ureaplasmaspecies colonization (P = 0.771). Ureaplasma spp. culture identification assay was positive in 7 (11.67%).Ureaplasma genus specific PCR was positive in 14 (23.33%) cases; species specific PCR in 9 (64.28%) infants were identified as U. parvum. Considering culture as diagnostic standard, sensitivity of PCR was 42.86%; specificity 79.24%; positive predictive value 21.43% and negative predictive value 91.30 %; with overall percentage agreement at 75%. Septicemia was positive in 12 (66.67%) infants colonized with Ureaplasmaspecies than in 5 (11.9%) of non colonized infants which was found to be significant (P = 0.00). Twelve (66.67%) patients with Ureaplasmaspecies colonization had lethargy with statistically significant association(P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: This study confirms that Ureaplasma species and particularly U. parvum colonization in preterm infants was related to respiratory distress. DISCLOSURES: All authors: No reported disclosures.