Detection of Ureaplasma urealyticum in Second-Trimester Amniotic Fluid by Polymerase Chain Reaction Correlates with Subsequent Preterm Labor and Delivery

Ureaplasma urealyticum is the microorganism most frequently isolated from the amniotic fluid of women in preterm labor. The relationship between intra-amniotic U. urealyticum in healthy second-trimester pregnant women and subsequent pregnancy outcome was investigated. Transabdominal amniotic fluid obtained from 254 asymptomatic women at 15–17 weeks’ gestation were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). U. urealyticum was identified in 29 subjects (11.4%). A subsequent preterm labor occurred in 17 U. urealyticum–positive women (58.6%), compared with 10 (4.4%) U. urealyticum–negative women (P