Korean J Urol.  2008 Apr;49(4):360-365.

Symptom Changes and Ureaplasma urealyticum Reculture after Treatment with Broad-spectrum Antibiotics for Patients with Urinary Tract Infection

• Lee SW
• Lee KW
• Kim ME

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate urinary tract infections that are caused by Ureaplasma urealyticum(U. urealyticum) in female patients, we compared the positive reculture rate and the improvement of acute lower urinary tract symptoms after treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
aterials and Methods: From January 2006 to June 2007, 89 female patients who were experiencing acute lower urinary tract symptoms were culture positive for U. urealyticum culture, but they were negative on routine urine culture. U. urealyticum reculture after a 7 day regimen of broad spectrum antibiotic treatment and evaluation of symptoms were conducted in 74 patients.
RESULTS
The symptoms improved in 35 patients(mean age: 44.0 years), but they did not improve in 39 patients(mean age: 44.1 years). A significant difference in the reculture rate of U. urealyticum was evident between the improved symptom group(40%) and the persistent symptom group (87.2%). Of the 39 patients in the latter group, 22 improved after treatment with anti-ureaplasma antibiotics, including azithromycin and doxycycline.
CONCLUSIONS
The continued presence of U. urealyticum correlates with persistent acute lower urinary tract symptoms after broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment. Culture examination for U. urealyticum should be considered for those female patients with persistent acute lower urinary tract symptoms after treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics.

Keyword

Ureaplasma urealyticum; Urinary tract infections

MeSH Terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Azithromycin
Female
Humans
Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms
Polyenes
Ureaplasma
Ureaplasma urealyticum
Urinary Tract
Urinary Tract Infections
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Azithromycin
Polyenes

Figure

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  Fig. 1 The symptom improvement rate after broad spectrum antibiotics treatment in the patients with acute lower urinary tract symptoms. LUTS: lower urinary tract symptom, U.U: Ureaplasma urealyticum.

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  Fig. 2 The result of reculture for Ureaplasma urealyticum after broad spectrum antibiotics treatment. Group I: symptom improvement after broad spectrum antibiotics treatment, Group II: symptom persistent after broad spectrum antibiotic treatment, U.U: Ureaplasma urealyticum.

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  Fig. 3 The symptom improvement rate after anti-ureaplasma drug treatment in patients with persistent lower urinary tract symptoms.

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