ISOLATION OF MYCOPLASMA-PNEUMONIAE FROM THE HUMAN UROGENITAL TRACT

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is. a common etiologic agent of lower respirator y tract infections in humans. However, it has been reported previously that the organism has occasionally been isolated from sites other tha n the oropharynx and respiratory tract. We report the isolation of 24 strains of M. pneumoniae from urogenital specimens obtained from 22 fe male patients. Most isolates were of cervical origin from patients att ending several local gynecological clinics over a 2-year period. Strai ns were also isolated from the urethra of one of three healthy male se xual partners of female patients positive for the organism. Single ser um specimens obtained from three female patients and three different m ale sexual partners showed antibody levels suggestive bf either recent respiratory infection or genital tract colonization with M. pneumonia e. Although there is nd apparent definitive explanation for the locali zed outbreak of the organism at these unusual sites, the possible tran sfer through sexual and/or orogenital contact remains the most likely mode of transmission. The occurrence of an organism with obvious patho genicity for human epithelial tissue in the urogenital tract Suggests such transfer could play a role in genital tract infection.