Detection and diagnosis of urogenital ureaplasma urealyticum infection

Objective This study was made to gain an insight into the diagnostic value of the broth method for ureaplasma urealyticum (Uu) detection. Methods 130 patients' urogenital tract secretions and prostatic fluid were collected for Uu detection by both broth method and fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (FQ-PCR), and bacterial culture was conducted in the Uu positive and polluted liquid medium. The results were compared and causally analyzed. Results Among the 130 specimens, there were 71 Uu positive, 13 polluted and 46 negative results in broth method; in FQ-PCR, there were 66 Uu positive results, of which 63 coincided with the broth method, while two of the other three specimens were judged as polluted in the broth method and the third negative. Eight specimens positive in the broth method but negative in the FQ-PCR and 13 polluted were all cultured bacteria and / or fungi. The strains were positive in at least one of the urease and arginine decomposition tests. Conclusion Negative specimens in the broth method for Uu detection may be polluted by the bacteria that decompose urea and arginine and thus detected as positive; on the other hand, positive specimens may be polluted by turbid bacteria and judged as negative, which would lead to a misleading diagnosis.