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Sex Transm Infect 2008;84:303-305 doi:10.1136/sti.2007.028670
  • Epidemiology

Prevalence of Mycoplasma genitalium among female students in vocational schools in Japan

  1. R Hamasuna1,
  2. H Imai2,
  3. H Tsukino1,
  4. J S Jensen3,
  5. Y Osada1
  1. 1
    Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Japan
  2. 2
    Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Public Health, Saitama, Japan
  3. 3
    Mycoplasma Laboratory, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen S, Denmark
  1. Ryoichi Hamasuna, Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake, Miyazaki 889–1692, Japan; hamaryo{at}med.miyazaki-u.ac.jp
  • Accepted 17 December 2007
  • Published Online First 11 January 2008

Abstract

Objective: In Japan it was reported that about 9% of sexually active female teenagers had Chlamydia trachomatis. Most of them were asymptomatic, which may lead to continuing spread of the infection. Like C trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium is a pathogen in male non-gonococcal urethritis. However, few studies of the prevalence of M genitalium in the general population have been reported. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of M genitalium infection among younger females and to determine risk factors for this infection.

Methods: The study was conducted between October 2005 and January 2006 using first voided urine specimens and questionnaires from female students of three vocational schools in the Miyazaki prefecture, Japan. C trachomatis was detected with Amplicor™ PCR. M genitalium was detected with inhibitor controlled real-time TaqMan™ PCR detecting the MgPa adhesion gene and with a PCR detecting the 16S rRNA. Risk factors associated with infection of M genitalium or C trachomatis were analysed with Fisher’s exact test.

Results: Among 298 female, 249 (84%) had had experience of sexual intercourse. The prevalence of M genitalium was 2.8% (95% CI 0.76% to 4.86%) and the prevalence of C trachomatis was 8.8% (95% CI 5.31% to 12.36%).

Conclusions: The risk factors of infection with M genitalium were more than five lifetime sexual partners and co-infection with C trachomatis.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: None.

  • Ethics approval: This study was approved by the ethics committee of the University of Miyazaki, Japan.

  • Patient consent: Informed consent was obtained in writing from each student.

  • Contributors: RH initiated the study, collected samples and questionnaire data, was responsible for analysis of samples for M genitalium, participated in data analysis and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. HI participated in planning of the study and collecting of samples and questionnaire data. HT performed the statistical analysis of data and edited the manuscript. JSJ participated in study design and edited the manuscript. YO provided his grant for this study and edited the manuscript.

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