Mycoplasma & Bladder Infection
Bladder infections can affect anyone at any age. Most of the time, these infections are caused by E. coli bacteria. However, in some cases, mycoplasma is to blame. Luckily, treatment is available for putting a stop to your symptoms and eliminating the infection altogether.
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What Is A Bladder Infection?
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A bladder infection is a term used generally to refer to a urinary tract infection, or UTI. A UTI occurs when bacteria, viruses or fungi enter the urethra and cause inflammation. The infection may be localized just to the urethra, or may travel up the urinary tract to affect the bladder. In severe situations, a UTI can travel to the ureters and kidneys.
What Is Mycoplasma?
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Mycoplasma are a type of organism that are prokaryotes and do not have a cell wall. Instead, they have a sterol-infused cell membrane that makes it easy for them to attach to the surface cells of the genitals and the lungs.
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How Mycoplasma Enters The Urinary Tract
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Mycoplasma-based bladder infections are not as common as E. coli-based infections. However, they still enter the urinary tract in much the same way: by traveling into the urethra. Since mycoplasma is not as common on the body as E. coli is, it's usually transmitted sexually, much like chlamydia.
Diagnosis
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Diagnosing a mycoplasma bladder infection is very similar to diagnosing any other sort of bladder infection. A clean catch urine sample is taken. This means that a wet wipe is used to clean the genital area, then you urinate for a moment before collecting the sample. A urinalysis test is then done to see what sort of bacteria is present in the urine. If an initial culture proves to be negative, a secondary culture will be done to test for mycoplasma and STDs. If you receive a positive diagnosis, both you and your sexual partner will need to be treated.
Treatment
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Unlike a standard bladder infection, a mycoplasma bladder infection will require a longer course of antibiotics. The drug of choice is usually tetracycline or doxycycline. After two weeks or so of treatment, a second urinalysis will be done to ensure the mycoplasma is gone.
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