PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - C Anagrius
AU  - B Loré
AU  - J S Jensen
TI  - <em>Mycoplasma genitalium</em>: prevalence, clinical significance, and transmission
AID  - 10.1136/sti.2004.012062
DP  - 2005 Dec 01
TA  - Sexually Transmitted Infections
PG  - 458--462
VI  - 81
IP  - 6
4099  - http://sti.bmj.com/content/81/6/458.short
4100  - http://sti.bmj.com/content/81/6/458.full
SO  - Sex Transm Infect2005 Dec 01; 81
AB  - 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.