Background
Preterm labor (PTL) is the leading cause of infant mortality in the industrialized world. In 2007, the Big Cities Health Inventory ranked Milwaukee 7th worst city for infant mortality among the 53 largest cities in the US. Approximately half of the infant deaths in Milwaukee are due to premature labor, which is known to lead to numerous medical complications for the infant. Research has shown that infections can be closely connected to preterm labor. Mycoplasma is a bacteria which causes infection in pregnancy and has not been widely studied. Determining whether Mycoplasma bacterium cause infection and subsequent preterm labor could lead to better prenatal care for women and fewer babies with the complications associated with preterm labor.
Objectives
The goals of this project are to:
- determine whether mycoplasma bacterium are related to preterm delivery of a fetus,
- explore the prevalence of mycoplasma infections in women,
- gather information about other factors that influence the rate of mycoplasma infections and subsequent pregnancy complications, and
- examine how the preterm delivery rate varies across different sites in Wisconsin.
Timeline
June 2007 – June 2009
Population
This project will be implemented at four locations around Wisconsin. 200 pregnant women will be enrolled in the Metro Milwaukee area.
Funding Source
Wisconsin Network for Health Research
http://www.cuph.org/projects/wihnr/
Partners
University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics
Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation
Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation
Aurora Health Care, Center for Urban Population Health (CUPH)
Project Details
The role of CUPH is to:
- recruit participants in Metro- Milwaukee clinics
- administer health history questionnaire
- collect cervical swab
- extract bacterial DNA from sample
- determine pregnancy outcome through a medical chart review
Local Investigators & Staff
Aurora UW Medical Group
Tina Mason, M.D., M.P.H.
Jackie Tillett, C.N.M., N.D.
Dennis Baumgardner, M.D.
Center for Urban Population Health
Jennifer Evertsen, M.S.
Jennifer Kroll, B.A.
Ruth Perez, B.A.
Amanda Joyce, B.S.
To learn more, contact:
Jennifer Evertsen
219-5594
jennifer.evertsen@aurora.org
