The etiology of non-specific urethritis in active duty Marines.

We studied patients with non-specific urethritis and control subjects at our dispensary. These patients and controls were matched for age, rank and sexual activity, and studied for the presence of bacteria, virus, Trichomonas and Mycoplasma. No significant bacteria were found in either group. No Trichomonas was identified, only 1 herpes II was recovered and no cytomegalovirus was found. Mycoplasma were cultured from patients and controls. The rate of colonization varied, depending upon several factors, but the significant factors seemed to be associated with the number of sexual partners. Those men with more than 1 sexual partner had a significantly increased colonization with Mycoplasma.