Etiology of nongonococcal urethritis
Holmes, K.K.; Handsfield, H.H.; Wang, S.P.; Wentworth, B.B.; Turck, M.; Anderson, J.B.; Alexander, E.R.
New England Journal of Medicine 292(23): 1199-1205
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-4793 PMID: 165407 DOI: 10.1056/nejm197506052922301Document Number: 520126
Chlamydia trachomartis was isolated from the urethra from 48 (42%) of 113 men with nongonococcal uethritis (NGU), 4 (7%) of 58 without overt urethritis, and 13 (19%) of 69 with gonorrhea. Postonococcal urethritis (PGU) developed in 11 of 11 men who had C. trachomatis. In 9 of 17 culture-positive seronegative patients with NGU or PGU, serum antibody to C. trachomatis developed. The immunotype specificity of chlamydial antibody corresponded to the immunotype isolated. Among culture-negative patients, chlamydial antibody prevalence correlated with the number of past sex partners and with previous NGU. Herpesvirus hominis, cytomegalovirus, T-mycoplasma, mycolpasma hominis, other bacteria, and Trichomanas vaginalis were not implicated in NGU or PGU. Thus, the cause of chlamydia-negative NGU and PGU remains obscure. Endocervical chlamydia were found in sex partners of 15 of 22 NGU patients with and 2 of 24 without urethral chlamydial infection (p0.001). Tetracycline treatment of both sex partners appears advisable.