Possible Role of T-Strain Mycoplasma in Nongonococcal Urethritis

Abstract

A study of urethritis patients at a US Naval Base in Luzon, Republic of the Philippines, was conducted by a naval research team to determine the nature of a urethritis problem there. Of 203 men in the study, 117 had uncomplicated gonorrhea and 22 had gonorrhea additionally associated with<i>Mycoplasma</i>(PPLO) and "L" organisms—a total of 139 gonorrhea cases. Urethritis among the remaining 64 men was nongonococcal. However, 33 of the 64 men had nongonococcal urethritis associated with a recently reported organism—the T-strain<i>Mycoplasma</i>. In 30 of these 33 men, this organism was the only<i>Mycoplasma</i>recovered in culture. We suggest that a distinct form of venereal urethritis has emerged which is associated with the T-strain<i>Mycoplasma</i>organism and which is completely unresponsive to penicillin.