Female urinary microbiota Journal Article

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Authors: Mueller, E. R.; Wolfe, A. J.; Brubaker, L
Article Title: Female urinary microbiota
Abstract: PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The newly discovered female urinary microbiota has the potential to deepen our understanding of urinary tract health and disease, including common lower urinary tract conditions such as urinary incontinence and urinary tract infection. The spectrum of painful bladder disorders and other less common conditions also may benefit from additional research that includes consideration of the resident bacterial community of the female bladder. The present review provides a clinical context for the rapidly emerging research regarding the female urinary microbiota and its relationships with urinary tract conditions of interest. RECENT FINDINGS: Studies using culture-independent techniques confirm prior reports of bacteria that reside in the female urinary bladder. These resident communities, the female urinary microbiota, possess characteristics that differ between women affected by urgency urinary incontinence and matched, unaffected controls. Enhanced urine culture techniques permit cultivation of organisms, including uropathogens, missed by standard urine culture, but detected by culture-independent sequencing techniques. SUMMARY: New technology is available. Clinical laboratories can modify traditional standard urine culture methods to enhance detection of uropathogens. However, given the existence of the female urinary microbiota, the simple presence of bacteria in the lower urinary tract should not be taken as evidence of infection.
Journal Title: Current opinion in urology
Volume: 27
Issue: 3
ISSN: 1473-6586; 0963-0643
Publisher: Unknown  
Journal Place: United States
Date Published: 2017
Start Page: 282
End Page: 286
Language: eng
DOI/URL:

10.1097/MOU.0000000000000396
Notes: LR: 20170420; GR: R21 DK097435/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States; GR: R01 DK104718/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States; GR: P20 DK108268/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States; GR: R56 DK104718/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States; GR: U10 HD041250/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States; JID: 9200621; ppublish