Ureaplasma urealyticum and upper urinary tract stones

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Microbiology
• Nephrology

Background:

• Kidney stones are a common condition with diverse etiologies.
• The role of microorganisms, particularly Ureaplasma urealyticum, in the pathogenesis of infection-induced stones requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the presence of bacteria and Ureaplasma urealyticum in the upper urinary tract of patients undergoing surgery for renal stones.
• To explore the association between Ureaplasma urealyticum and different types of kidney stones.

Main Methods:

• Culturing of voided urine, pelvic urine, and renal stones from 50 patients.
• Chemical analysis of stone composition to classify them as metabolic or infection-induced (struvite and/or carbonate-apatite).

Main Results:

• Ureaplasma urealyticum was detected in the upper urinary tract of 8 patients.
• The microorganism was found in 1 patient with metabolic stones and 7 patients with infection-induced stones.
• In 4 patients with infection stones, Ureaplasma urealyticum was the sole detected urease-producing microorganism.

Conclusions:

• Ureaplasma urealyticum is present in the upper urinary tract of patients with renal stones, particularly infection-induced types.
• The findings suggest a potential etiological role for Ureaplasma urealyticum in the formation of certain struvite and carbonate-apatite kidney stones.