The spelling of "urobacillus" is derived from the Greek words "ouro", meaning urine, and "bakterion", meaning staff. It refers to a group of rod-shaped bacteria commonly found in the urinary tract. The correct pronunciation using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is [jʊərəʊbəˈsɪləs], with stress on the second syllable. The "ba" is pronounced as "bə" since it follows a schwa sound. The final "us" is pronounced as "əs" since it follows an unstressed syllable.
Urobacillus is a genus of gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria belonging to the family Bacillaceae. These bacteria are characterized by their ability to thrive in environments with high levels of urine or urinary tract-related matter. The name "urobacillus" is derived from the Latin word "uro," meaning urine, indicating their preference for urine-based habitats.
Members of the Urobacillus genus are typically aerobic organisms, meaning they require oxygen to survive. They are facultative anaerobes, capable of switching to anaerobic metabolism in the absence of oxygen. Urobacillus species are non-motile, lacking flagella for movement.
Urobacillus bacteria are commonly found in the urinary tract of animals and can occasionally be isolated from urine samples. While some Urobacillus species are considered commensal, meaning they coexist harmlessly with their host, others may be opportunistic pathogens, causing urinary tract infections (UTIs) particularly in individuals with compromised immune systems or underlying medical conditions.
Clinical manifestations of Urobacillus infections can vary, with symptoms ranging from asymptomatic bacteriuria (presence of bacteria in urine without causing symptoms) to more severe UTIs such as cystitis or pyelonephritis. Treatment usually involves antibiotics that are effective against gram-positive bacteria.
Further research is needed to fully understand the pathogenicity and ecology of Urobacillus species, as well as their potential role in urinary tract infections and other related conditions.
Any bacillus causing decomposition of urine.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "urobacillus" is derived from Greek roots. "Uro-" comes from the Greek word "ouron", meaning urine, and "bacillus" is derived from "baktron", which means staff or rod-like. The combination of these roots refers to a rod-shaped bacterium found in urine samples.