Macrolides do not affect the incidence of moderate and severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia in symptomatic ureaplasma-positive infants.

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in symptomatic ureaplasma-positive treated preterm infants and asymptomatic preterm infants not tested or treated for ureaplasma.

Methods: A retrospective matched cohort study was conducted in a tertiary, neonatal unit between January 2007 and December 2012. Infants ≤29 completed weeks with signs and symptoms suggesting ureaplasma pneumonia who received macrolides comprised the study group. Infants ≤29 weeks without signs and symptoms not tested or treated with macrolides were the controls. Infants were mandatorily matched for gestational age ± one week or birthweight ± 100 grams.

Results: There were 31 infants in the study group and 62 in the control group. The baseline demographic data of both groups were similar on the whole. The incidence of moderate and severe BPD, defined by oxygen dependency or the need for continuous positive airway pressure at 36 weeks of postconceptual age, was 45.2% in the study group and 40.3% in the controls (p = 0.65). There was no significant difference in morbidities or mortality between the groups.

Conclusion: A selective approach of treating symptomatic ureaplasma-positive preterm infants with macrolides did not affect the incidence of moderate and severe BPD.