title: The role of nanobacteria in urologic disease.
abstract: Recent data proposing an extremely small, self-replicating agent termed "nanobacteria" has raised a great deal of controversy within the scientific community. Since these agents have been isolated within the genitourinary tract, much research has focused attention on the potential role these particles may play in the development of urologic pathology, including polycystic kidney disease, renal calculi, and chronic prostatitis. Recent clinical research targeting these agents has proven effective in treating some patients with refractory category III prostatitis (chronic pelvic pain syndrome). This article reviews the current state of nanobacteria research and explore where these particles may impact urologic disease.
authors.affiliation: Glickman Urological Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation Cleveland, Mail Code: A100 OH, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
authors.forename: Hadley M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Shoskes
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000145:classification*; D011379:Prognosis; D011472:Prostatitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014570:Urologic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*