Nongonococcal urethritis

Nongonococcal urethritis may now account for most cases of symptomatic urethritis seen at VD clinics in the United States. Well-controlled etiologic studies in nongonococcal urethritis have implicated Chlamydia in over 40% of cases but the etiology of Chlamydia-negative cases remains uncertain. Tetracycline provides effective antimicrobial therapy, but tests for cure are often inadequate, and distinguishing relapse and reinfection is difficult. For tetracycline-allergic patients, erythromycin should be used. Control measures to decrease transmission of nongonococcal urethritis are not well established.