''Ureaplasma urealyticum'' is a type of bacteria that can cause infection of the

urinary tract The urinary system, also known as the urinary tract or renal system, consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and the urethra. The purpose of the urinary system is to eliminate waste from the body, regulate blood volume and blood pressure, c ...

and

vagina In mammals, the vagina is the elastic, muscular part of the female genital tract. In humans, it extends from the vestibule to the cervix. The outer vaginal opening is normally partly covered by a thin layer of mucosal tissue called the hymen ...

. It can be passed from mother to infant during birth, or be sexually transmitted. '' Ureaplasma urealyticum'' can be found in a majority of sexually active people, most of whom are asymptomatic. It can also be found in cultures in cases of pelvic inflammatory disease. It is not a

commensal Commensalism is a long-term biological interaction (symbiosis) in which members of one species gain benefits while those of the other species neither benefit nor are harmed. This is in contrast with mutualism, in which both organisms benefit fro ...

of the healthy uterine or amniotic microbiome. Infection with ''U. urealyticum'' can contribute to

neonatal infection Neonatal infections are infections of the neonate (newborn) acquired during prenatal development or in the first four weeks of life (neonatal period). Neonatal infections may be contracted by mother to child transmission, in the birth canal dur ...

and negative birth outcomes.

Presentation

Men

It had also been associated with a number of diseases in humans, including nonspecific urethritis, and infertility.

Women and infants

Infection in the newborn is accompanied by a strong immune response and is correlated with the need for prolonged

mechanical ventilation Mechanical ventilation, assisted ventilation or intermittent mandatory ventilation (IMV), is the medical term for using a machine called a ventilator to fully or partially provide artificial ventilation. Mechanical ventilation helps move a ...

. Infection with ''U. urealyticum'' in pregnancy and birth can be complicated by

chorioamnionitis Chorioamnionitis, also known as intra-amniotic infection (IAI), is inflammation of the fetal membranes ( amnion and chorion), usually due to bacterial infection. In 2015, a National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Workshop expert ...

, stillbirth,

premature birth Preterm birth, also known as premature birth, is the birth of a baby at fewer than 37 weeks gestational age, as opposed to full-term delivery at approximately 40 weeks. Extreme preterm is less than 28 weeks, very early preterm birth is between 2 ...

, and, in the

perinatal Prenatal development () includes the development of the embryo and of the fetus during a viviparous animal's gestation. Prenatal development starts with fertilization, in the germinal stage of embryonic development, and continues in fetal devel ...

period,

pneumonia Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. The severi ...

bronchopulmonary dysplasia Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD; part of the spectrum of chronic lung disease of infancy) is a chronic lung disease in which premature infants, usually those who were treated with supplemental oxygen, require long-term oxygen. The alveoli that are ...

and meningitis. ''U. urealyticum'' has been found to be present in amniotic fluid in women who have had a premature birth with intact fetal membranes. ''U. urealyticum'' has been noted as one of the infectious causes of sterile pyuria. It increases the morbidity as a cause of

s. It is associated with premature birth, preterm rupture of membranes, preterm labor, cesarean section, placental inflammation, congenital pneumonia, bacteremia, meningitis, fetal lung injury and death of infant. ''Ureaplasma urealyticum'' is associated with miscarriage. In addition, this pathogen may latently infect the chorionic villi tissues of pregnant women, thereby impacting pregnancy outcome.

Diagnosis

Treatment

Doxycycline is the drug of choice, but

azithromycin Azithromycin, sold under the brand names Zithromax (in oral form) and Azasite (as an eye drop), is an antibiotic medication used for the treatment of a number of bacterial infections. This includes middle ear infections, strep throat, pneumo ...

is also used as a five-day course rather than a single dose that would be used to treat ''Chlamydia'' infection;

streptomycin Streptomycin is an antibiotic medication used to treat a number of bacterial infections, including tuberculosis, ''Mycobacterium avium'' complex, endocarditis, brucellosis, ''Burkholderia'' infection, plague, tularemia, and rat bite fever. F ...

is an alternative, but is less popular because it must be injected.

Penicillins Penicillins (P, PCN or PEN) are a group of β-lactam antibiotics originally obtained from ''Penicillium'' moulds, principally '' P. chrysogenum'' and '' P. rubens''. Most penicillins in clinical use are synthesised by P. chrysogenum using ...

are ineffective — ''U. urealyticum'' does not have a cell wall, which is the drug's main target.

References

External links

{{STD/STI Sexually transmitted diseases and infections Infectious causes of cancer Infections with a predominantly sexual mode of transmission Bacterial vaginosis Women's health Bacterial diseases Pediatrics