Ureaplasma/Mycoplasma hominis Culture
Code:18016|CPT:87109|LOINC:17852-5, 15388-2
| Includes | Ureaplasma urealyticum Mycoplasma hominis |
|---|
Analysis details
Methodology
- Culture on selective media
Expected Turnaround Time
1–2 days
Special Instructions
- Obtain the specimen before starting antimicrobial therapy.
- For women, collect a urogenital swab or urine sample before menstruation or 2–3 days after it ends.
- For men, do not urinate for 3 hours before urethral swab collection.
- For men, avoid urination and genital cleansing for 6 hours before urine collection.
- Submit one specimen for each test ordered.
- Document the exact anatomic source on the requisition (eg, genital lesion).
- Include the specific test number on the request form.
How to use
Ureaplasma/Mycoplasma hominis Culture (genital mycoplasma culture) is used to identify infection due to Ureaplasma urealyticum or Mycoplasma hominis in cases of suspected urethritis or cervicitis, and to evaluate genitourinary disease when common causes such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Trichomonas vaginalis, or Mycoplasma genitalium are not detected. The test may contribute to the assessment of infertility, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and selected neonatal infections (eg, respiratory disease, meningitis) when these organisms are considered. It can be paired with other diagnostic methods to refine the differential diagnosis and to assess response following antimicrobial therapy.
Limitations
Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum are cell wall–deficient genital mycoplasmas transmitted primarily through sexual contact and perinatally. These organisms can colonize the lower genital tract and, when conditions allow, are associated with nongonococcal urethritis, prostatitis, epididymo-orchitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, endometritis, and cystitis. During pregnancy, colonization has been linked to adverse outcomes such as preterm delivery and postpartum endometritis, and to neonatal infection, including respiratory disease, meningitis, and sepsis. Coinfection with other genital pathogens occurs frequently. Culture has limited sensitivity, and recovery of the organism does not by itself establish causation. Results should be interpreted in conjunction with the clinical presentation and other laboratory findings.
| Unit | qualitative |
|---|---|
| Reference interval | — |
| Indications | Clinical suspicion of Ureaplasma or Mycoplasma involvement in the genital tract, Persistent or subacute urogenital inflammation with negative results for Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Mycoplasma genitalium, Unexplained neonatal or perinatal respiratory infection, Preconception evaluation for couples, Workup of infertility or recurrent pregnancy loss, Test-of-cure approximately 1 month after antimicrobial treatment, HIV infection with concern for concomitant genital infections |
Possible Causes of Abnormal Results
Decreased levels
- antibacterial therapy
Specimen Requirements
| Specimen | Semen |
|---|---|
| Container | Sterile Container (PCR Transport) |
| Storage Instructions | Refrigerated |
References
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. PubMed 6988709.
Kenny GE. Genital Mycoplasmas: Mycoplasma genitalium, Mycoplasma hominis, and Ureaplasma species. In: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, eds. Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Churchill Livingstone; 2005.
Non-chlamydial non-specific genital infection. In: Pattman R, et al., eds. Oxford Handbook of Genitourinary Medicine, HIV, and AIDS. 1st ed. Oxford University Press; 2005.
Khamitova IV, Semenov AV. Comparison of detection of mycoplasmal infection by culture with semi-quantitative titer assessment and by polymerase chain reaction. Terra Medica. 2008;19(3).
Kisina V, Shirshova E. The role of genital mycoplasmas in the development of clinical syndromes in women. Vrach. 2006;(2):6-10.