Persistent urethral leukocytosis and asymptomatic chlamydial urethritis.

Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated from 47% of asymptomatic, sexually active men whose urethral smears contained four or more polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) per high-power field (hpf) one week after their sexual activity was restricted. C. trachomatis was not detected in any of 23 asymptomatic, sexually active men having less than 4 PMN/hpf in two urethral smears obtained one week apart. Semiquantitation of urethral PMN in the urethral Gram-stained smear is useful in the evaluation of asymptomatic men without gonorrhea who are concerned about the possibility of harboring a urethral pathogen.