Urinary Tract Infection With Trichomonas vaginalis in a Premature Newborn Infant and the Development of Chronic Lung Disease

Abstract

We report a case of a low-birth-weight infant with an infection of the urinary tract with Trichomonas vaginalis, who later developed cystic chronic lung disease suggestive of Wilson-Mikity syndrome. Although she had mild respiratory distress syndrome at birth, the extent of the chronic lung disease was out of proportion to the initial illness. We speculate that maternal infection with this organism may have resulted in an inflammatory response that led to its development.

Wilson–Mikity syndrome: Updated diagnostic criteria based on nine cases and a review of the literature

“…The cause of WMS has never been determined although associations with intra- 26,27 and extra-uterine 28 infections have been reported. Our own belief is that affected children have airways that are uniquely sensitive to mechanical stress during the first days of life.…”

Prevalence and treatment outcomes of routine Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Trichomonas vaginalis testing during antenatal care, Gaborone, Botswana

“…(4) Infants of mothers infected with TV may contract the infection during delivery, which could result in fever, respiratory problems, and urinary tract infections. (6, 7)…”

Silencing the ap65 gene reduces adherence to vaginal epithelial cells by Trichomonas vaginalis

“…, 1995; Viikki et al ., 2000) and increased susceptibility to HIV/AIDS (Wasserheit, 1992; Laga et al ., 1993; Sorvillo and Kerndt, 1998; Sorvillo et al ., 2001). Among other sequelae from trichomonosis are orchitis associated with oligoasthenoteratospermia and hypogonadism (Lloyd et al ., 2003), newborn urinary tract infections with chronic lung disease (Hoffman et al ., 2003), and lung coinfection by T. vaginalis and pneumocystis in a patient with AIDS (Dubougher et al ., 2003). Men with trichomonosis may have a non‐chlamydial, non‐gonococcal urethritis (Kreiger et al ., 1993), and symptomatic men with trichomonosis who are HIV‐positive have higher concentrations of infectious HIV in semen, facilitating HIV transmission (Hobbs et al ., 1999).…”