Microbiology of the urethral (frequency and dysuria) syndrome. A controlled study with 5-year review.

In a clinical and microbiological study of women with urinary frequency and dysuria (excluding those with bacterial cystitis), 41 patients were compared with 42 control subjects. No difference was found between patients and controls in the incidence of infection by Chlamydia trachomatis or other sexually transmitted organisms. The numbers of lactobacilli and other fastidious organisms in the urine of patients with either mild or severe symptoms were similar and did not differ from the numbers in the urine of control subjects. The numbers of leucocytes in urine were also similar in both patients and controls. Our findings support the view that the urethral syndrome is not caused by bacterial or chlamydial infection.