TY - JOUR T1 - Prevalence of <em>Mycoplasma genitalium</em> and macrolide resistance among asymptomatic people visiting a point of care service for rapid STI screening: a cross-sectional study JF - Sexually Transmitted Infections JO - Sex Transm Infect DO - 10.1136/sextrans-2019-054124 SP - sextrans-2019-054124 AU - Miguel Fernández-Huerta AU - María-Jesús Barberá AU - Juliana Esperalba AU - Candela Fernandez-Naval AU - Marti Vall-Mayans AU - Maider Arando AU - Judit Serra-Pladevall AU - Claudia Broto AU - Francesc Zarzuela AU - Ariadna Rando AU - Tomas Pumarola AU - Mateu Espasa Y1 - 2019/08/26 UR - http://sti.bmj.com/content/early/2019/08/26/sextrans-2019-054124.abstract N2 - Objectives Although rapid screening and treatment programmes have been recently implemented to tackle STIs, testing Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) among asymptomatic populations is not currently recommended due to the lack of scientific evidence and the emergence of antibiotic resistance. The main objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of MG and macrolide resistance among asymptomatic people visiting a point of care service for rapid STI screening and to identify risk factors associated with the acquisition of this infection.Methods Between October 2017 and January 2018, a total of 890 asymptomatic individuals attending to the STI screening service Drassanes Exprés in Barcelona, Spain, were tested for MG and macrolide resistance using the molecular ResistancePlus MG assay (SpeeDx, Australia). Asymptomatically infected individuals were invited to attend the STI Unit for resistance-guided antimicrobial therapy.Results Overall, the prevalence of MG was 7.4% (66/890; 95% CI 5.8% to 9.3%), being higher among men who have sex with men (MSM) (46/489) compared with heterosexual men and women (20/401; p=0.012). Macrolide resistance was found in 32/46 (69.6%; 95% CI 54.2% to 82.3%) MSM, while only 2/20 (10.0%; 95% CI 1.2% to 31.7%) infections among heterosexuals presented macrolide resistance-mediated mutations (p&lt;0.001). MSM behaviour, receptive anal intercourse, HIV positive status, syphilis history and high-risk sexual activity (more than five sexual partners in the last 3 months) were significantly associated with MG infection. Furthermore, the resistance-guided therapy approach was implemented in 36/66 (54.6%) individuals.Conclusions The research provides further data regarding the prevalence of MG and macrolide resistance among asymptomatic individuals. It also identifies higher risk subpopulations which might be targets for MG screening. Nevertheless, there is insufficient data to justify MG testing among asymptomatic individuals and current STI guidelines should be followed until evidence shows the cost and effectiveness of screening. ER -