Ureaplasma urealyticum as a Cause of Ventriculitis in an Extremely Low Birth Weight Infant

Abstract

Abstract Ureaplasma urealyticum (Uu) has rarely been described as a cause of ventriculitis in preterm infants. We report a preterm infant in whom Uu was detected in the tracheal secretion. Concurrent intraventricular hemorrhage III° with posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus occurred, necessitating the bilateral insertion of ventriculostomy access devices for treatment. Persisting high cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein and pleocytosis in the otherwise clinically unremarkable neonate subsequently led to the targeted detection of Uu in the CSF. Normalization of CSF parameters occurred only after prolonged intravenous and oral macrolide therapy.