A. Lenore Ackerman, MD, PhD, presented “Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma Molecular Testing Does Not Correlate with Irritative or Painful Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms” for the Grand Rounds in Urology audience in May 2021.
How to cite: Ackerman, A. Lenore. “Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma Molecular Testing Does Not Correlate with Irritative or Painful Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms” May 2021. Accessed Jul 2024. https://grandroundsinurology.com/mycoplasma-and-ureaplasma-molecular-testing-does-not-correlate-with-irritative-or-painful-lower-urinary-tract-symptoms/
Summary:
A. Lenore Ackerman, MD, PhD, Director of Research for FPMRS in the Department of Urology at the University of California, Los Angeles, shares data from her research group evaluating diagnostic testing patterns for ureaplasma and mycoplasma and characterizing the associations of these bacteria with irritative lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) using molecular detection techniques. Dr. Ackerman explains the context and rationale for the study and reviews how it illustrates Robert Koch’s postulates. She also addresses topics such as how physicians should approach LUTS in culture-negative patients, the significance of the bacteria detected through new sensitive methods, and whether symptoms are proof of infection or if they could be related to something else. Ultimately, she concludes with two main points: that the physician’s focus should be on treating the patient, not on treating a test; and that not all bacteria are bad, as some healthy genitourinary commensal bacteria play an important role in preventing urinary tract infections.
For more in-depth discussions and educational features on NGS, visit our Microbiome & Urologic Infection Learning Center.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. A. Lenore Ackerman is Assistant Professor of Urology and Director of Research in the Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of California, Los Angeles. She was born in Los Angeles, but spent her childhood throughout the US, from southern California to Maine. After settling in New Haven, Connecticut, she earned her degree in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry at Yale University. She later completed her PhD in Immunology at Yale, focusing on molecular mechanisms of antigen presentation in dendritic cells. After realizing a desire to pursue translational medicine, she joined the Medical Scientist Training Program at Yale, receiving her MD. She completed her internship in General Surgery and began residency in Urology at the University of California, Los Angeles. Under the mentorship of Dr. Larissa Rodriguez, her research during this residency focused on changes in the central nervous system of an animal model due to interstitial cystitis induced by psychological stress. After the completion of residency, she continued at UCLA as a fellow in Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery. Her current research focuses on the role of host-microbe interactions in the etiology of benign lower urinary tract disorders. She specializes in the treatment of incontinence, voiding dysfunction, and pelvic floor disorders.
