Ureaplasma urealyticum
Ureaplasma urealyticum
Ureaplasma urealyticum (pronounced: yoo-ree-uh-plaz-muh yoo-ree-uh-li-ti-kum) is a species of bacteria that belongs to the genus Ureaplasma and the family Mycoplasmataceae.
Etymology
The name Ureaplasma urealyticum is derived from the bacterium's ability to hydrolyze urea, a process known as urealysis. The term urealyticum is Latin for "urea splitting."
Description
Ureaplasma urealyticum is a small, wall-less bacterium that is typically found in the urogenital tract of humans. It is one of the smallest free-living organisms and is unique in that it does not have a cell wall, which makes it resistant to many common antibiotics.
Pathogenicity
Ureaplasma urealyticum is often associated with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and can cause urethritis, cystitis, and pyelonephritis. It has also been implicated in a variety of other conditions, including infertility, pregnancy complications, and neonatal morbidity.
Treatment
Treatment for Ureaplasma urealyticum typically involves antibiotics, such as doxycycline, erythromycin, or azithromycin. However, due to the bacterium's lack of a cell wall, many common antibiotics are ineffective.
Related Terms
- Ureaplasma parvum: Another species of Ureaplasma that is often found in the human urogenital tract.
- Mycoplasma: A genus of bacteria that, like Ureaplasma, lacks a cell wall.
- Urethritis: Inflammation of the urethra, often caused by sexually transmitted infections.
- Cystitis: Inflammation of the bladder, often caused by a bacterial infection.
- Pyelonephritis: A type of urinary tract infection that reaches the kidneys.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Ureaplasma urealyticum
- Wikipedia's article - Ureaplasma urealyticum
This WikiMD article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski