Prevalence of Mycoplasma hominis Infection in Pregnant Women with an Adverse Pregnancy Outcome: A Prospective Study

Background: Genital Mycoplasmas are implicated in a number of adverse outcome of pregnancy and some other conditions. M hominis might be associated with or causing the conditions such as ectopic pregnancy, spontaneous preterm labour, preterm prelabour rupture of the membranes, pelvic inflammatory disease, maternal postpartum or postabortal fever, Low birth weight and bacterial vaginosis. Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of Mycoplasma hominins infections among the pregnant woman and its association with an adverse pregnancy outcome and some other conditions at maternity and Children Hospital, in Abha (a city southwest region), Saudi Arabia. Methods: A hundred pregnant patients (mean age 29.00 years) were enrolled in the study whose urogenital swabs were analyzed for the presence of Mycoplasma hominis. Detailed history was obtained for all patients including an adverse pregnancy outcome and some other clinical conditions. Results: The incidence of Mycoplasma hominis among pregnant woman was 12 positive out of 100(12%) associated pregnancy outcomes and other conditions including threatened miscarriage, 5/12, and spontaneous preterm labour, 3/12 were the most common clinical conditions and all other condition including, ectopic pregnancy, pelvic inflammatory disease, preterm prelabour rupture of membrane and secondary infertility, were observed as the less common, 1/12. All positive isolates were identified as Mycoplasma hominins. Conclusion: Our study shows considerably a higher prevalence due to Mycoplasma hominis infections in pregnant patients and its associated various pregnancy outcomes and other clinical conditions and further work studies are needed for the role and the effect of this pathogen in patients with genital tract infections.