Ureaplasma

Epidemiology

• found in the human genitourinary tract & occasionally in the pharynx & rectum

Pathology

• males
  • non-gonococcal urethritis
  • prostatitis
• females
  • genitourinary tract infections
  • reproductive failure

Laboratory

• Ureaplasma identified by culture
  • micro-aerophilic to anaerobic, non-motile bacteria
  • contain no cell walls
  • coccoidal in morphology, 0.3 um in diameter
  • frequently grow in short filaments
  • colonies are 20-30 um in diameter.
  • Ureaplasma hydrolyze urea with production of ammonia
• Mycoplasma&Ureaplasma identified by culture
• Ureaplasma DNA

Management

• azithromycin or doxycycline

More general terms

• Mycoplasmataceae

More specific terms

• Ureaplasma parvum
• Ureaplasma urealyticum