The urobiome of continent adult women: a cross‐sectional study

Objective To characterise the bladder microbiota of continent adult women. Design Cross‐sectional study of adult women who contributed catheterised urine samples, completed validated symptom questionnaires, and provided demographic data. Setting US academic medical centre. Population Well‐characterised continent adult women. Methods Participants contributed symptoms questionnaires, demographic data, and catheterised urine samples that were analysed by enhanced urine culture methodology and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Main outcome measures Associations between demographics and microbial community state structures (urotypes, defined by the dominant taxon of each specimen). Results The bladder microbiota (urobiome) of a control group of 224 continent women were characterised, demonstrating variability in terms of urotype. The most common urotype was Lactobacillus (19%), which did not differ with any demographic. In contrast, the Gardnerella (P