| Ureaplasma urealyticum | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Bacteria |
| Division: | Firmicutes |
| Class: | Mollicutes |
| Order: | Mycoplasmatales |
| Family: | Mycoplasmataceae |
| Genus: | Ureaplasma |
| Species: | U. urealyticum |
| Binomial name | |
| Ureaplasma urealyticum Shepard et al., 1974 |
|
Ureaplasma urealyticum is a bacterium belonging to the family Mycoplasmataceae. Its type strain is T960.
Contents |
Clinical significance
U. urealyticum is part of the normal genital flora of both men and women. It is found in about 70% of sexually active humans.
It had also been described to be associated with a number of diseases in humans, including non-specific urethritis (NSU), infertility, chorioamnionitis, stillbirth, premature birth, and, in the perinatal period, pneumonia, bronchopulmonary displasia[1] and meningitis.
However, given the relatively low pathogenicity of the organism its role in some of these diseases remains contentious.
Classification
There are six recognised Ureaplasma species, They have a GC content of 27-30%, and a genome size ranging between 0.76-1.17 Mbp, and cholesterol is required for growth. A defining characteristic of the genus is that they perform urea hydrolysis.
It is now recommended that some strains originally classified as Ureaplasma urealyticum should be treated as a new species, U. parvum.
Treatment
Ureaplasma can come and go, doesn't cause permanent damage and should be cleared up with a day 10 treatment of doxycycline for both partners.
Penicillin is ineffective -- these bacteria don't have a cell wall, which is the target of penicillin.
References
- ^ Kafetzis DA, Skevaki CL, Skouteri V, et al (October 2004). "Maternal genital colonization with Ureaplasma urealyticum promotes preterm delivery: association of the respiratory colonization of premature infants with chronic lung disease and increased mortality". Clin. Infect. Dis. 39 (8): 1113–22. doi:. PMID 15486833. http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/resolve?CID32584.
External links
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