The role of Ureaplasma urealyticum in urinary tract infections. Demonstration of antibodies against ureaplasmas in the urine

This study reports the presence of antibodies against Ureaplasma urealyticum in the urine in 17.2% (85) of 493 patients with chronic pyelonephritis. At the same time in 37 of antibody-positive urine samples evidence was found of cultivated Ureaplasma urealyticum, other bacterial germs were isolated infrequently. These culturally and serologically positive urine samples mostly showed pathologic findings of urine sediments. These results led us to believe in a possible involvement of the Ureaplasmas in keeping inflammation processes in the upper urinary tract.