Comparison of methods for the isolation of genital mycoplasmas from men

Two hundred nine men were studied to determine the optimal method of obtaining cultures for genital mycoplasmas. Ureaplasma urealyticum (T-mycoplasmas) was isolated from 95 (45.5%) of the participants. Urethral cultures obtained by means of urethrogenital calcium alginate swabs identified 82 (86%) of the 95 colonized men. Urethral cultures taken with cotton-tipped applicators (76%), urine cultures (27%), and cultures of the coronal sulcus (24%) detected fewer colonized men. All men who were colonized with U. urealyticum were identified by one of the two urethral cultures. Mycoplasma hominis was recovered from 73 (34.9%) of the 209 men. Urethral cultures identified most of the circumcised men who were colonized with M. hominis (11 of 14; 79 %). In contrast, cultures from the coronal sulcus detected most of the colonized uncircumcised men (49 of 59: 83%). More than 90% of the men who were colonized with M. hominis were identified by either urethral culture or culture of the coronal sulcus. A similar study conducted among 143 normal college students yielded comparable results.