Marinjho Emely Jonduo, Lisa Michelle Vallely, Handan Wand, Emma Louise Sweeney, Dianne Egli-Gany, John Kaldor, Andrew John Vallely, Nicola Low
Journal: BMJ open 2022;12(8):e062990
PMID: 36028274
Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma parvum and Ureaplasma urealyticum, referred to together as genital mycoplasmas, commonly colonise the urogenital tract in women, and are often found together. These species do not appear to cause symptoms or harmful effects in non-pregnant women. However, studies have reported that colonisation with a genital mycoplasma has been associated with several adverse pregnancy outcomes. The main objective of this study was to investigate the associations between M. hominis, U. urealyticum and/or U. parvum and the risk of pre-term birth, alone and in combination with bacterial vaginosis (BV). This study is a systematic review and meta-analysis of fifty-seven studies. Results show that genital mycoplasmas are associated with several different adverse pregnancy outcomes in univariable analysis only. Authors conclude that since only six of the fifty-seven studies reported multivariable analysis, the current available literature does not allow conclusions about the role of mycoplasmas in adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes, alone or with coexisting BV.
OBJECTIVES
and (genital mycoplasmas) commonly colonise the urogenital tract in pregnant women. This systematic review aims to investigate their role in adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes, alone or in combination with bacterial vaginosis (BV).
METHODS
We searched Embase, Medline and CINAHL databases from January 1971 to February 2021. Eligible studies tested for any of the three genital mycoplasmas during pregnancy and reported on the primary outcome, preterm birth (PTB) and/or secondary outcomes low birth weight (LBW), premature rupture of membranes (PROM), spontaneous abortion (SA) and/or perinatal or neonatal death (PND).Two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts, read potentially eligible full texts and extracted data. Two reviewers independently assessed risks of bias using published checklists. Random effects meta-analysis was used to estimate summary ORs (with 95% CIs and prediction intervals). Multivariable and stratified analyses were synthesised descriptively.
RESULTS
Of 57/1194 included studies, 39 were from high-income countries. In meta-analysis of unadjusted ORs, was associated with PTB (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.49 to 2.34), PROM, LBW and PND but not SA. was associated with PTB (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.34 to 2.55), PROM, LBW, SA and PND. was associated with PTB (1.60, 95% CI 1.12 to 2.30), PROM and SA. Nine of 57 studies reported any multivariable analysis. In two studies, analyses stratified by BV status showed that and were more strongly associated with PTB in the presence than in the absence of BV. The most frequent source of bias was a failure to control for confounding.
CONCLUSIONS
The currently available literature does not allow conclusions about the role of mycoplasmas in adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes, alone or with coexisting BV. Future studies that consider genital mycoplasmas in the context of the vaginal microbiome are needed.
PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER
CRD42016050962.
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.
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