Mycoplasma genitalium: an organism commonly associated with cervicitis among west African sex workers
- J Pépin1,
- A-C Labbé2,
- N Khonde,
- S Deslandes1,
- M Alary4,
- A Dzokoto5,
- C Asamoah-Adu3,
- H Méda6,
- E Frost1
- 1Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
- 2Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, Canada
- 3West Africa Project to Combat AIDS and STI, Accra, Ghana
- 4Centre Hospitalier Affilié Universitaire and Laval University, Québec, Canada
- 5Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana
- 6West Africa Project to Combat AIDS and STI, Cotonou, Bénin
- Correspondence to: Dr Jacques Pépin Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, 3001, 12ème Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada J1H 5N4; jacques.pepinusherbrooke.ca
- Accepted 29 April 2004
Abstract
Objectives: To identify the contribution of Mycoplasma genitalium to the aetiology of cervicitis in sub-Saharan Africa and its relative importance in the overall burden of sexually transmitted infections among female sex workers (FSW).
Methods: The study population consisted of FSW recruited in Ghana and Bénin during the initial visit of a randomised controlled trial. A questionnaire was administered, a pelvic examination carried out, and cervical samples obtained for detection of M genitalium, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Trichomonas vaginalis. Clinical signs potentially indicating cervicitis were cervical discharge, pus on the cervical swab, bleeding after sampling, and inflammatory cervix.
Results: Among 826 FSW, 26.3% were infected with M genitalium. N gonorrhoeae was strongly and independently associated with each of the four signs of cervicitis (adjusted odds ratios (AOR): 4.1 to 6.0). The AOR for C trachomatis were intermediate (1.3–4.1) and the AOR for M genitalium were lower (between 1.6 and 1.8) but statistically significant (p≤0.05) for each sign.
Conclusions:M genitalium is weakly associated with signs of cervicitis in west African FSW but is highly prevalent.
- AOR, adjusted odds ratio
- CT, Chlamydia trachomatis
- FSW, female sex workers
- MG, Mycoplasma genitalium
- NAAT, nucleic acid amplification tests
- NG, Neisseria gonorrhoeae
- PCR, polymerase chain reaction
- STI, sexually transmitted infections
- TV, Trichomonas vaginalis
Footnotes
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Conflicts of interest: none.
