title: Comparison of methods for the isolation of genital mycoplasmas from men.
abstract: Two hundred nine men were studied to determine the optimal method of obtaining cultures for genital mycoplasma. Ureaplasma urealyticum (T-mycoplasmas) was isolated from 95 (45.5%) of the participants. Urethral cultures obtained by means of urethrogenital calcium alginate swabs identified 82 (86%) of the 95 colonized men. Urethral cultures taken with cotton-tipped applicators (76%) urine cultures (27%), and cultures of the coronal sulcus (24%) detected fewer colonized men. All men who were colonized with U. urealyticum were identified by one of the two urethral cultures. Mycoplasma hominis was recovered from 73 (34.9%) of the 209 men. Urethral cultures identified most of the circumcised men who were colonized with M. hominis (11 of 14; 79%). In contrast, cultures from the coronal sulcus detected most of the colonized uncircumcised men (49 of 59; 83%). More than 90% of the men who were colonized with M. hominis were identified by either urethral culture or culture of the coronal sulcus. A similar study was conducted among 143 normal college students yielded comparable results.
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D002944:Circumcision, Male; D005832:Genital Diseases, Male / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D010413:Penis / Q000382:microbiology; D014509:Ureaplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014521:Urethra / Q000382:microbiology; D014556:Urine / Q000382:microbiology