MYCOPLASMA GENITALIUM

Mycoplasma genitalium: prevalence, clinical significance, and transmission

C Anagrius¹, B Loré² and J S Jensen³

¹ Department of Venereology, Falu Lasarett, SE-791 82 Falun, Sweden
² Department of Clinical Microbiology, Falu Lasarett, SE-791 82 Falun, Sweden
³ Statens Serum Institut, Mycoplasma Laboratory, DK-2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Carin Anagrius
Department of Venereology, Falu Lasarett, SE-791 82 Falun, Sweden; carin.anagrius{at}ltdalarna.se

Objectives: To study the prevalence, symptoms and signs of Mycoplasma genitalium and Chlamydia trachomatis infections in STD clinic attendees and in partners of M genitalium infected patients.

Methods: M genitalium and C trachomatis were detected by polymerase chain reaction from urethral and endocervical swab specimens in a cross sectional study among 445 female and 501 male STD clinic attendees. Partners of 26 female and 26 male M genitalium positive index patients were examined.

Results: The prevalence of C trachomatis and M genitalium was 4% and 6.3%, respectively, among the women and 5.4% and 6%, respectively, among the men. Dual infections were uncommon. M genitalium was strongly associated with urethritis in both men and women and with cervicitis in women. Among M genitalium infected men, symptomatic urethritis was more common than asymptomatic urethritis. M genitalium and C trachomatis were not associated with symptoms of urethritis or cervicitis in women. Of 26 male partners of M genitalium positive female index patients, 38% were positive, and 77% of the negative partners had symptoms of urethritis. The concordance rate for 22 female partners of male index patients was 45%. For both men and women the M genitalium prevalence was significantly higher in partners of M genitalium positive index patients than in M genitalium negative index patients with urethritis and/or cervicitis.

Conclusions: M genitalium is associated with urethritis in both men and women and with cervicitis in women. A high concordance rate was found among sexual partners of M genitalium infected patients, indicating that the infection is sexually transmitted.

Abbreviations: FVU, first void urine; hpf, high power field; NCNGU, non-chlamydial non-gonococcal urethritis; NGU, non-gonococcal urethritis; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; PMNLs, polymorphonuclear leucocytes

Keywords: Mycoplasma genitalium; sexually transmitted infections; cervicitis; urethritis

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