Ureaplasma/Mycoplasma hominis Culture

Establish the diagnosis of Ureaplasma urealyticum infection in suspected cases of urethritis and cervicitis.

Culture may be negative in the presence of infection, and the presence of Ureaplasma urealyticum or Mycoplasma hominis does not always indicate infection, although there is a significant association with symptomatic disease.

Ureaplasma and Mycoplasma can be isolated from urethral and genital swabs and from urine of sexually active individuals. Sixty percent or more of all women asymptomatically carry U urealyticum in their genital tract. Usual prevalence of these organisms in patients with urethral symptoms also is high; thus, conclusions regarding the etiologic role of an isolate in a given patient are difficult to make. Nevertheless, Ureaplasma urealyticum has been associated with cases of nongonococcal urethritis.

1. Leland DS, Lapworth MA, Jones RB, et al. Comparative evaluation of media for the isolation of Ureaplasma urealyticum and genital Mycoplasma species. J Clin Microbiol. 1982; 16(4):709-714. PubMed 7153318

Bell TA. Chlamydia trachomatis,Mycoplasma hominis, and Ureaplasma urealyticum infections of infants. Semin Perinatol. 1985; 9(1):29-37. PubMed 3881828

Stamm WE, Wagner KF, Amsel R, et al. Causes of the acute urethral syndrome in women. N Engl J Med. 1980; 303(8):409-415. PubMed 6993946

Taylor-Robinson D, McCormack WM. The genital Mycoplasmas.N Engl J Med. 1980; 302(18):1003-1010 (review). PubMed 6988709