title: Isolation of L-forms in a clinical microbiology laboratory.
abstract: Previous studies have demonstrated that L-forms of bacteria may play a role in persistent, chronic, or recurrent urinary-tract infections. A 2-year program was initiated to determine the feasibility of culturing for L-forms on a routine basis, and to determine the effectiveness of such a program. In relation to the total number of specimens, few L-forms were actually isolated. In comparison with the amount of equipment and technician time required, the return was negligible; only 0.5% of all urine specimens were positive for L-forms. An increase to only 1.2% was noted when culturing for L-forms was limited to patients with a diagnosis of bacteriuria or pyelonephritis. It is recommended that this technique be reserved for those patients with a long history of recurrent urinary-tract infections, after other attempts to cure the patient have met with failure.
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D001437:Bacteriuria / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D007740:L Forms; D011704:Pyelonephritis / Q000382:microbiology; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D014556:Urine / Q000382:microbiology*