Ureaplasma Urealyticum Infection
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Ureaplasma Urealyticum is a bacterial infection that is sexually transmitted between partners.
It is found in about 70% of sexually active humans, and is usually commensal (asymptomatic in nature) and can survive in the reproductive tract for many years, undetected, until a patient is specifically tested for the infection.
It is more often detected in women than men. Women who are pregnant or are trying to become pregnant should be wary of this infection. The infection is known to cause fertility problems including tubal disease, recurrent miscarriages, premature birth and stillbirths.
Mode of transmission:
• Primarily through sexual contact. It is a venereal disease transmitted through genital-to-genital, oral-to-genital, or oral-to-oral contact.
• Vertically from mother to baby (in utero or at birth)
• Hospital acquired through transplanted tissues
• Aerosol - cough or sneeze
The infection is most commonly associated with sexual promiscuity.
Symptoms
Causes inflammation of sexual organs
• Unusual genital discharge and odor
• Urethritis- inflamed urethra
• Prostatitis-inflamed prostate
• Salpingitis- inflamed fallopian tubes
• Orchitis- inflamed testicles
• Epididymitis- inflamed epididymis
• Chorioamnionitis- in pregnancy the fetal membrane is inflamed
• Neonatal pneumonia- in newborns
• Neonatal meningitis- in new borns
• Chronic fatigue
• Burning sensation in nose
• Itchy eyes
The infection may also cause reactive arthritis, decreased sperm motility and count, and poor post coital tests.
If you are suffering any symptoms, it is important to provide a urine sample for testing by a pathology lab.
Treatment
Medical treatment is handled according to the patient involved, the presence of underlying disease or immunodeficiency, and whether the infection is localized or disseminated.
Currently, the initial recommended therapy prescribed by physicians is:
• Doxycycline is the drug of choice. given for 2 weeks or
• a single dose of Azithromycin which can be repeated in 10-14 days
Other alternatives include Erythromycin, Ofloxacin and Minocycline.
If the condition is still present after the initial treatment, a different type of antibiotic may be prescribed by the physician.
When both sexual partners show signs of Ureaplasma urealyticum, they should be taking antibiotics simultaneously as prescribed by the physician.
Safe sex should be implemented by both partners until treatment is finished. A repeat test should be taken after treatment to ensure the infection was eradicated.