Intraamniotic infection with genital mycoplasmas exhibits a more intense inflammatory response than intraamniotic infection with other microorganisms in patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to compare the intensity of inflammatory responses between intraamniotic infection with genital mycoplasmas and intraamniotic infection with other microorganisms. STUDY DESIGN: We examined the intensity of intraamniotic and maternal inflammatory responses in 99 patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes and a positive amniotic fluid (AF) culture. AF was obtained by transabdominal amniocentesis or at the time of cesarean delivery. Patients were divided according to the recovered microorganisms: (1) genital mycoplasmas (n = 62); (2) other microorganisms (n = 31); or (3) mixed infection (n = 6). RESULTS: The median AF white blood cell (WBC) count, maternal blood WBC count, and plasma C-reactive protein concentrations were significantly higher in patients with intraamniotic infection with genital mycoplasmas than in those with intraamniotic infection with other microorganisms (P < .05 for each). CONCLUSION: Intraamniotic and maternal inflammatory responses are more intense in intraamniotic infection with genital mycoplasmas than in intraamniotic infection with other microorganisms in patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes.