Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of Mycoplasma genitalium in a large number of male patients attending an STI clinic and to determine if there is an association with objective non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) in patients with and without clinical symptoms.

Methods: Patients were tested for both M. genitalium and Chlamydia trachomatis if they had symptoms or microscopic signs of NGU or if they were perceived to be at high risk of exposure to an STI (n=8468). Urethral smears were examined for polymorphic mononuclear leucocytes.

Results: We found that M. genitalium infection was associated with symptoms of non-chlamydial NGU (discharge and dysuria, OR=4.3, CI=3.4-5.5). We also found that M. genitalium infection was associated with signs of non-chlamydial NGU, independently with or without symptoms of NGU (OR=4.7, CI=3.2-6.7; OR=3.1, CI=2.0-4.6, respectively). Prevalence of M. genitalium was also associated with severity of urethritis, as quantified by microscopic examination of urethral smears.

Conclusions: This data adds further evidence to the association of M. genitalium infection with NGU and should allow better risk analysis of recent recommendations of not performing urethral smears in asymptomatic men attending STI clinics.