Sowing on ureaplasma abundant growth. Analysis for ureaplasma in women and men: how to take a smear for culture

Culture for ureaplasma is a type of examination to determine the presence. These are microorganisms that are endowed with the ability to lead to the formation of pathological processes in the urogenital tract and respiratory organs.

In most cases, it is asymptomatic and does not manifest itself with any pathological manifestations. The state of the body's resistance plays a particularly important role in the process of disease formation. It should be noted that prolonged exposure to stressful situations and nervous and emotional overload can also cause the formation of the disease.

The disease is especially dangerous for women during pregnancy, because infection of the amniotic fluid and fetus can occur, so it is very important to conduct research for ureaplasmosis. In the arsenal of modern medical workers there are a considerable number of methods for diagnosing ureaplasmosis. The simplest and cheapest is considered to be a tank inoculated for ureaplasma. We will talk about what analysis is and what results can be obtained by conducting it in more detail in this article.

What is culture for ureaplasma?

First of all, it is necessary to emphasize that testing for ureaplasma and mycoplasma is not prescribed to persons if they do not have symptoms of inflammation and infection of the genital tract. The study is based on the examination of biological material taken from the genitourinary tract.

After collection, the examined material is sent to a transport medium and only then to a nutrient medium. He stays there for seventy-two hours. Bacteriological culture helps determine the number of microorganisms and their titer in relation to other pathogenic bacteria.

Sowing is carried out on liquid and solid media; the grown culture resembles a fried egg in its appearance. The most effective method is considered to be bacterial culture for ureaplasma on an agar medium with urea. The bacteria will grow in small, dark brown colonies.

Indications for examination

We have figured out what sowing is, and now we will find out under what conditions it is carried out. It is recommended for persons to undergo testing for ureaplasma:

• the results of a smear on the microflora of which showed an inflammatory process localized in the urethra, vagina or cervix, and the cause of its formation remains unknown;
• with the presence of frequently recurring exacerbations of bacterial vaginosis;
• examination of sexual partners who showed the presence of genital mycoplasma;
• those who frequently change sexual partners and do not use barrier protection;
• planning pregnancy;
• women during pregnancy with the development of complications;
• who will undergo surgery or manipulation of organs located in the pelvis;
• those suffering from infertility (especially if there is no reason);
• having a history of more than two cases of miscarriage or a case of stillbirth;
• in which other types of sexually transmitted infections have been diagnosed (for example, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, gonorrhea).

Where and when is biomaterial taken from?

Bakpasev is carried out only if a certain pathological process in the genitourinary organs is diagnosed. This examination, as well as a number of other tests (for example, urine analysis) can be carried out for preventive purposes.

If ureaplasmosis is detected and a course of treatment is completed, a re-examination is recommended two weeks after stopping the medication.

The collection of biological material from men is carried out by taking a scraping from the mucous membrane of the urinary canal organs; the material can also be sperm.

From representatives of the weaker half of humanity, material is taken after the end of menstruation from the urethra, cervical canal and vaginal vault.

Please note that in the vast majority of cases, repeated collection of material is carried out once for men, and three times for representatives of the weaker half of humanity (before and after menstruation).

Culture for ureaplasma infection is carried out:

• to determine the cause of the formation of inflammatory processes in the genitourinary organs that have a chronic course;
• for differential diagnosis of diseases with similar symptoms;
• to determine the sensitivity of the pathogen to all antibiotics
• for prophylactic purposes.

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Is it possible to transmit ureaplasma orally: through saliva, kiss

Rules for preparing for the examination

In order for the results of culture for Ureaplasma parvum to be more accurate, special attention must be paid to preparing for the test. Recommended:

• Refrain from urinating for several hours before the test.
• Avoid sexual relations 24 hours before the test day.
• Stop using any medications, especially antibacterial drugs, antifungals and antiseptics. If this is not possible, then you must tell the doctor conducting the examination about this.
• For representatives of the weaker half of humanity, material is collected seven days after menstruation.

When carrying out complex bacterial culture for ureaplasma and mycoplasma, it is necessary to collect a large volume of material. It is taken from the urethra of men and the inner walls of the vagina in women. If representatives of the stronger half of humanity are diagnosed with a urogenital infection, they need to additionally undergo a urine test.

Quite often, sick people are interested in the question of how microorganisms enter the human body. The answer is quite simple, ureaplasmas are considered opportunistic microorganisms; they are present in the human body all the time. The development of a pathological process is observed if contributing factors appear: diseases of the genital area, psychological and emotional overload, leading to a decrease in the body's resistance. There is an activation of microorganisms and an increase in the permeability of the mucous membrane of the genitourinary organs. The presence of a small amount of ureaplasma, which is considered normal, does not lead to the formation of a pathological condition.

Evaluation of results

In modern conditions, the study allows us to determine the exact indicators of ureaplasma, as well as resistance to medications.

If the number of pathogens is no more than 10 to 4 CFU per 1 ml, this is normal and an inflammatory process usually does not develop. A person is considered a carrier, and microorganisms do not have a negative effect on his body. If the number is higher, this indicates the presence of an active infection.

A result is considered negative when there is no growth of colonies on the nutrient medium.

Please note that it is impossible to talk about diseases based only on the results of the study, because a general and instrumental examination of the patient must also be carried out. The interpretation of the analysis is carried out only by the doctor.

Sowing can show unreliable information, this happens in the case of ureaplasma transition to a persistent state, the bacteria lose the ability to reproduce on a nutrient medium.

A similar situation may occur when taking antibacterial drugs or providing inadequate treatment for a pathological condition. Microorganisms are localized in the epithelial cells of the mucosa, and antibiotics are not able to have a detrimental effect on them. The best option is to conduct a follow-up examination, especially after completing a course of treatment. This will determine the level of effectiveness of the therapy.

Algorithm of actions when obtaining a positive culture result

If a ureaplasma infection is detected in the body, further tactics mainly depend on the general condition of the person. The prescription of drug therapy is considered justified if the presence of an inflammatory process is observed, there are complaints and pathological symptoms.

Regardless of the case, it is necessary to consult a doctor who will clarify the diagnosis and prescribe an adequate treatment regimen. It will be auxiliary to carry out culture to determine which agents with an antibacterial effect the microorganism is resistant to.

Doctors call ureaplasma microorganisms that are the causative agents of certain infectious diseases of the urogenital tract and respiratory tract. Ureaplasma is a subspecies of mycoplasma, so doctors, when prescribing a culture for ureaplasma, usually do an analysis for mycoplasma too.

What is ureaplasmosis

Ureaplasmosis is a disease that is most often asymptomatic in both men and women. The general immune state of the body plays a major role in increasing the number of ureaplasma in the body. Thus, stress and nervous tension can provoke the development of a disease that will subsequently lead to serious complications - endometritis, adnexitis and other inflammations of the uterus in women, non-gonococcal urethritis in men. Ureaplasma is especially dangerous in pregnant women in amniotic fluid, since in this case the fetus can be infected through the eyes or digestive tract.

Modern medicine has a sufficient number of tools to diagnose ureaplasmosis in the early stages. However, it is important to do a timely culture for ureaplasma and mycoplasma, especially for women planning a pregnancy.

What is such a culture, how to take it, and what indicators can be considered normal?

Tank culture for ureaplasma - what is it?

Bacteriological culture or, as it is also called, cultural testing for ureaplasma is an analysis during which a certain amount of biological material is taken from the patient, which is then placed in a special nutrient medium. During the study, doctors determine the amount of ureaplasma and mycoplasma per 1 ml of donated biological fluid, and also check which antibiotics this type of organism is sensitive to.

Indications for analysis

Analysis for ureaplasma is prescribed in the following cases:

• Detection of the inflammatory process of the urogenital tract or research into the causes of chronic inflammation;
• Frequent change of sexual partners and lack of contraception;
• Presence of ectopic pregnancy;
• When planning pregnancy;
• As a preventive measure.

Carrying out analysis

Unlike blood tests, the requirements for a patient to take a ureaplasma test are not so strict. A scraping of the mucous membranes of the genitourinary tract is taken as biological material, no less than 3-4 hours after urination, and no less than 24 hours after the last sexual intercourse. In women, tank analysis can be carried out only in the period between menstruation, and a scraping is taken from the inner walls of the vagina. In men, scraping is done from the urethra, and the ejaculate is also examined.

After collecting the material for research, it is placed in a transport bottle and then directly into the nutrient medium. Then, within 3 days, the tank is inoculated for ureaplasma and mycoplasma and subjected to observation. At the end of the period, doctors evaluate what has grown from the nutrient medium, identify microorganisms and determine their quantity.

What determines sowing?

Patients often ask doctors where they got ureaplasma or other microorganisms from? In fact, they are always present on the mucous membranes, but do not cause inflammatory processes. Problems begin when the immune system weakens or in case of infection with another sexually transmitted infection. Then the permeability of the mucous membranes increases, pathogenic microorganisms penetrate inside and begin to actively develop, thereby causing various diseases.

That is, culture for ureaplasma and mycoplasma shows the number of these microorganisms, and it is this figure that is the most important in the course of the study. It is currently not possible to cure ureaplasma carriage, however, all inflammations that it causes are subject to mandatory treatment.

Modern diagnostic techniques make it possible to identify the exact amount of ureaplasma, determine its type, and sensitivity to medications.

Analysis results - norm and deviations

As noted above, inflammatory processes caused by ureaplasma can occur unnoticed by humans, so it is important to identify exactly the number of microorganisms in order to know for sure whether there is a disease or not.

The norm of ureaplasma in a healthy person should not be higher than 10 4 CFU per 1 ml. Exceeding this indicator indicates that inflammatory processes have begun. However, many doctors consider this culture rate for ureaplasma to be relative, and generally resort to analysis only to confirm their own suspicions identified during the examination.

Description

Determination method bacteriological

Material under study See description

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Diagnosis of urogenital infection caused by Ureaplasma spp and choice of antibiotics.

Ureaplasma spp. causes an inflammatory process in the genitourinary system. This microbe is considered the cause of the disease if it is detected during laboratory testing, and other pathogenic microorganisms that can cause such inflammation have not been identified. Ureaplasma is transmitted through household contact, most often through sexual contact. The incubation period is two to three weeks. Infection in men manifests itself as urethritis, leading to damage to the testicles and appendages, and ultimately to male infertility. In women, this microbe is found with bacterial vaginosis. Being asymptomatic does not reduce the risk of complications. To identify the pathogen, the bacterial culture method is used. In this case, up to 80% of cases are found to be co-infected with ureaplasma, mycoplasma and anaerobic microflora.

Isolated pathogens: Ureaplasma spp.

Material for research: depending on the indications, smears from the urethra, vagina, and cervix are subject to examination in women; in men - a smear from the urethra, prostate secretion, ejaculate, urine (urine is collected in an amount of at least 40 - 50 ml). Restriction: in women, urine is not tested.

Literature

1. Bogomolov G.I. Differential diagnosis of infectious diseases M. 2000. 231 pp.
2. Gladkova N.S. et al. Evaluation of various methods of laboratory diagnosis of urogenital mycoplasmas.
3. News dermatol. Venerol., 1999, No. 2, pp. 43 - 45.
4. Gorbach S. Et al./ Infectious Diseases (3rd edition)/2003/ Lippincott Williams & Wilkins/2700 ps.

Preparation

The study is carried out before starting antibiotics. If a smear is taken from the urethra for research, the material is collected before or no earlier than 2 to 3 hours after urination. In women, the study is not carried out during menstruation; the material should be taken no earlier than 5-7 days of the monthly cycle and before its end.

Indications for use

Urogenital infections with suspected presence of Ureaplasma spp and control after treatment (on 10 - 14 days after discontinuation of the drug).

Interpretation of results

Interpretation of research results contains information for the attending physician and is not a diagnosis. The information in this section should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. The doctor makes an accurate diagnosis using both the results of this examination and the necessary information from other sources: medical history, results of other examinations, etc.

The presence or absence of growth is indicated, a semi-quantitative assessment is given, and sensitivity to antibiotics is given if the result is positive.

Interpretation of the result: normally the result is negative. In asymptomatic carriers, a low titer may be detected (< 10 4 кое/тампон/мл).

The list of AMPs can be found

At least a tank. culture for ureaplasma and is considered a less sensitive diagnostic method compared to modern studies such as PCR or ELISA, the results of bacterial culture for ureaplasma are still listened to, but a urine test for ureaplasma is prescribed extremely rarely. Cultures are used to identify a diagnosis, determine the quantitative indicator of viruses in the material, and also when doctors prescribe the appropriate antibiotic for a particular patient.

Unfortunately, this method has several disadvantages compared to more modern diagnostics. Culture for ureaplasma and mycoplasma does not determine the specific type of pathogen (parvum or urealiticum). It is completely unsuitable for growing Mycoplasma genitalia in an artificial environment, because it is slower than other members of the family to be cultivated in an artificial environment. The tank culture for ureaplasma urealiticum also lags behind PCR in its sensitivity. It is only about 45%. The material is very unstable to transportation.

You should not think that bacterial culture for ureaplasma has become obsolete or has already been replaced by other methods. If carried out correctly and correctly interpreted the results, it can indicate the number of viruses in the body. Even more valuable is its value in determining the sensitivity of the pathogen to antibiotics. Based on these advantages, patients with infertility and cervical erosion, colitis and urethritis are increasingly learning how to take bacteriological cultures for ureaplasma.

How is the culture for ureaplasma carried out and how is it taken?

Doctors who have devoted most of their lives to treating infections consider a quantitative test for ureaplasma to be the most reliable result. And it doesn’t matter that someone calls it bacterial culture in the old fashioned way. It’s nice to know that in medicine it is considered a classic and its results are trusted. But still not everyone knows how to take a culture test for ureaplasma.

For ureaplasma parvum, quantitative analysis is carried out on the basis of material in which the presence of the pathogen is suspected. These are secretions formed on the mucous membranes. Samples in women are usually taken from the vagina, from the cervix, or directly from the uterus itself. In men, discharge from the urethral mucosa is taken for analysis. Urine culture for ureaplasma is usually not prescribed because this virus is not present in the urine. If the doctor recommends this urine test, it is only for the purpose of identifying other microbes in the body that may be involved in inflammatory processes.

In order for a doctor to prescribe a culture for ureaplasma parvum there must be good reasons:

• A woman is preparing for a planned pregnancy and undergoes all tests
• Infertility, which cannot be treated in any way and there are no apparent reasons for it
• A questionable PCR result has already been received, but confirmation is required
• Abundance of leukocytes in smears
• Presence of nonspecific flora in the genital area

After the material has been removed for bacterial culture, it must be immediately placed in a special medium. Bacteria will grow there. Agar or sugar broth can be chosen as a nutrient medium.

Results of bacteriological tests

Every patient who has had a culture test for ureaplasmosis thinks that perhaps the results will be comforting and the doctor will rule out the presence of the virus in the body. An analysis for ureaplasma inoculation in a laboratory is obtained no earlier than 48 hours from the moment the material is collected. Sometimes it takes up to 3 days until the results are known. When deciphering tests, the main indicator is the amount of virus. The numbers obtained in the results show whether the presence of the virus is dangerous for the body and whether its quantity causes the diseases that the patient already has.

If there are no viruses in the collected material, the result of such a study will be negative. In this case, no treatment will be required, but if you have symptoms of the above diseases, you will have to look for another source of infection. It could be chlamydia.

When there is a virus in the discharge, the patient receives a positive result, which necessarily indicates the concentration of microorganisms. The norm for inoculating a tank for ureaplasma is 10 4 CFU/mmol. Depending on the condition of the patient and the gender of the person contacting the laboratory, a result of up to 10 5 CFU/mmol can be accepted as the norm. If the culture for ureaplasma exceeds the norm, the patient will be sent for additional examination and further treatment with antibiotics will be prescribed.

When ureaplasma is detected, the culture results are taken into account when determining the method of treating diseases. Bacteriological culture is also used during treatment for intermediate testing. This is how doctors determine the correctness of the chosen treatment. The titers show a decrease in the virus, which means that the treatment is successful and the chosen course can be continued.

Ureaplasma is an opportunistic microorganism that causes genitourinary infections in women and men. The disease caused by this microorganism is called ureaplasmosis and can occur with a variety of clinical symptoms or without any manifestations. That is why timely diagnosis and treatment of ureaplasmosis is necessary. Modern diagnostic measures allow you to quickly and accurately determine the presence of a microbe in the body, making it possible to get rid of the disease in a short time. The main diagnostic method is culture for ureaplasma with determination of sensitivity to antibiotics. This highly informative analysis not only makes it possible to find out about the presence of infection in the body, but also at the same time to select the optimal treatment.

What is culture for ureaplasma?

In their medical practice, gynecologists and urologists often refer their patients to undergo a culture test for mycoplasma and ureaplasma to diagnose inflammatory diseases. Many people ask the question: “What is this and why do I need to do research?”

Bacteriological culture (bacteriological culture) refers to microbiological culture diagnostic methods. The purpose of the study with this method is to find bacteria of the large class Mollicutes, which includes Mycoplasma hominis and genitalium, Ureaplasma parvum and Ureaplasma urealyticum and to determine their sensitivity to antibiotics.

Mycoplasma infection is a collective concept that includes about 16 pathogens, the most common pathogens being: mycoplasma hominis and genitalium. They usually cause diseases of the urogenital tract, but under certain conditions they penetrate into other organs: lungs, trachea, bronchi.

The main problem of diagnosis and treatment for these microorganisms is their dynamic variability in the process of evolution. Every year, an increasing number of strains have lost sensitivity to the most commonly used antibiotics. This creates many problems when designing treatment regimens.

Advantages of the method

The diagnosis of ureaplasmosis and mycoplasmosis is established only after culture or PCR. A smear from the vagina, urethra, venous blood or 10 ml of morning urine can be used as biological material.

The diagnosis of ureaplasmosis and mycoplasmosis is established only after culture or PCR

What is sowing? In fact, although doctors use the term “seeding” to refer to the entire procedure, the process of seeding onto a medium is only one of its component parts. The entire diagnostic procedure is a dynamic chain consisting of collecting biological fluids, inoculating them, culturing them in a thermostat, studying them under a microscope and carrying out chemical reactions to identify pathogenic agents.

Culture to determine flora is the “gold standard” for diagnosing genitourinary diseases. It was first used several centuries ago, but is still not inferior to modern research methods. When choosing between PCR or tank culture, doctors first lean towards the second option. It is characterized by highly informative analysis, the ability to develop an individual antibacterial therapy regimen based on the obtained antibiogram, and allows strain typing. And the cost of culture for ureaplasma and mycoplasma is cheaper than the PCR method. The need to carry out the PCR method arises when the result of a bacteriological examination is negative, but in the presence of clinical symptoms. Polymerase chain reaction is also chosen in cases where it is necessary to obtain results within a few hours.

Indications for testing

Bakposev is carried out in the presence of complaints in the direction of a doctor - gynecologist or urologist. When it is discharged, the microbiological examination form always indicates the item “With determination of sensitivity to antibiotics” and the drugs commonly used for treatment are emphasized, usually in quantities of 7-10.

Inflammatory reactions from the genitourinary system cause a blurred clinical picture, difficult to diagnose without the help of laboratory services:

• dysuric phenomena: painful urination, pain, frequent visits to the toilet, small volume of urine;
• discomfort and pain during sexual intercourse;
• pain in the groin and suprapubic region, rarely in the inner thigh;
• enlargement of local lymph nodes, pain when touched, redness and swelling of the skin in this area;
• Women often experience menstrual irregularities, abnormal uterine bleeding, and pain in the lumbar region;
• discharge from the urethra or vagina with a strong or unpleasant odor;
• general symptoms: weakness, decreased performance, apathy, fever.

Unfortunately, in approximately 55-60% of cases there are no symptoms. A person is a carrier of infection without knowing it.

Rules for preparing for analysis

To accurately identify mycoplasma hominis and genitalium, ureaplasma urealyticum and parvum, or other mycoplasmosis, it is enough to take a bacterial culture once, but in compliance with all conditions.

The rules are the same for both men and women. Before taking the test, a number of conditions must be met:

Before taking the test, you must not take any antibacterial or antiviral medications for two months.

• do not take any antibacterial or antiviral medications for two months;
• two days before the test, abstain from sexual intercourse;
• It is advisable for women to visit a doctor in the second half of the menstrual cycle or no earlier than the third day after the cessation of menstruation;
• You can’t take a hygienic shower in the morning before visiting a doctor; it’s better to do it in the evening;
• do not urinate for four hours before the procedure;

How is it carried out?

The procedure is carried out quickly - on average in five minutes. In women, material for culture is taken from the urethra, cervical canal and posterior vaginal fornix. In men, it is taken from the urethra, having previously treated everything around with a sterile napkin, pressed on the urethra and taken drops for culture. If the discharge from the urethra is scanty, then it becomes necessary to obtain a scraping from the mucous membrane of the urethra using a Volkmann spoon or a special probe.

All collected biological fluids are first placed in a transport medium for delivery to the laboratory. There, the material is transferred to a nutrient medium and cultured for ureaplasma and mycoplasma.

The study begins from the moment the material is transferred into a test tube or onto a Petri dish in a nutrient medium. It has optimal conditions for the growth and reproduction of bacteria, protects them from adverse environmental influences, and suppresses the colonization of other pathogens. Here, microorganisms go from an inactive state to an active one, divide and form small clusters - colonies, which are examined by laboratory diagnostic doctors. As the strains grow, the liquid changes from yellow to pink, and on the Petri dish tiny colonies of a round shape with jagged edges and a wrinkled surface are formed.

A diagnostician examines strains under a microscope, studying growth patterns, morphology and chemical properties.

Decoding the results

The laboratory diagnostics doctor checks the presence of colonies on the nutrient medium daily. If the crop produces intensive growth, the test result will be positive. Next, an in-depth study of the morphological and chemical properties of the pathogen and determination of its sensitivity to drugs occurs. The absence of colony growth on the medium means that the pathogen is not in the body. A laboratory diagnostics doctor checks the presence of colonies on the nutrient medium daily

Once a pure bacterial culture is obtained, it is Gram stained, examined under a microscope, and a series of indicative chemical tests are performed. To determine sensitivity to antibiotics, automated systems are used - bacteriological analyzers. The laboratory assistant prepares a solution from the culture and places it on the test systems of the device. The culture is again incubated from four hours to two days, depending on the analyzer model. The result is given on paper in the form of a list of drugs marked sensitive, moderately sensitive and resistant (S, I, R).

Decoding the results is not difficult; the form with the results looks like this:

• name of the pathogen in Latin (Ureaplasma parvum, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis, Mycoplasma genitalium);
• microorganism concentration is the number of microorganisms capable of forming colonies in 1 ml of biological fluid (CFU/ml). The normal content of the pathogen is no more than 1 * 10 4, a result of 1 * 10 5 or more is considered positive, and high titers indicate an acute infectious process of the genitourinary system;
• list of medications indicating sensitivity.

Treatment methods

Therapy for the disease is carried out according to the results of the sensitivity of bacteria to drugs, taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient: age, presence of chronic diseases, allergies or contraindications to taking certain drugs.

The complex treatment includes:

• use of antibiotics for at least 7 days in doses optimal for each patient;
• correction of immune status;
• local therapy (suppositories, ointments, vaginal capsules);
• physiotherapeutic procedures.

Video

Culture for ureaplasma.