Low prevalence of Mycoplasma genitalium in patients examined for Chlamydia trachomatis.

BACKGROUND There is increasing interest in Mycoplasma genitalium as a sexually transmissible pathogen. The clinical picture resembles that of Chlamydia trachomatis infection, but the natural course has not yet been well defined. There are no guidelines regarding who should be examined for M. genitalium. Most of the prevalence studies have been carried out in patients attending clinics for sexually transmissible diseases. We have examined the prevalence in samples sent from general practice requesting analysis for C. trachomatis. MATERIAL AND METHOD During the period October 1 to December 31 2010, all samples sent to Molde Hospital, Norway, that queried C. trachomatis were examined also for M. genitalum. Both agents were examined using real time PCR. The PCR for C. trachomatis was performed using a CE labelled and IVD approved method from Roche. The PCR for M. genitalium was performed using an in-house method where the target gene is GAP. RESULT A total of 950 patients were examined (Men n=225, women n=725). The prevalences of M. genitalium and C. trachomatis were 2.0 % and 10.0 % respectively (men 4.0 % and 15.1 %, women 1.4 % and 8.4 %). CONCLUSION Because of the low prevalence, we recommend selection of patients for examination for M. genitalium. The difference in prevalence between the sexes can reflect different indications for sample taking.

[1]  D. Taylor-Robinson,et al.  Mycoplasma genitalium: from Chrysalis to Multicolored Butterfly , 2011, Clinical Microbiology Reviews.

[2]  R. Lillis,et al.  Utility of Urine, Vaginal, Cervical, and Rectal Specimens for Detection of Mycoplasma genitalium in Women , 2011, Journal of Clinical Microbiology.

[3]  J. Jensen,et al.  Mycoplasma genitalium PCR: Does Freezing of Specimens Affect Sensitivity? , 2010, Journal of Clinical Microbiology.

[4]  C. Bjartling,et al.  [Chlamydia and genital mycoplasma: epidemiology and risks]. , 2010, Lakartidningen.

[5]  S. Baum Introduction to Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma , 2010 .

[6]  L. Manhart Has the time come to systematically test for Mycoplasma genitalium? , 2009, Sexually transmitted diseases.

[7]  T. Mroczkowski,et al.  A randomized comparison of azithromycin and doxycycline for the treatment of Mycoplasma genitalium-positive urethritis in men. , 2009, Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

[8]  N. Reinton,et al.  Mycoplasma genitalium is associated with symptomatic and asymptomatic non-gonococcal urethritis in men , 2008, Sexually Transmitted Infections.

[9]  N. Reinton,et al.  Mycoplasma genitalium in women with lower genital tract inflammation , 2008, Sexually Transmitted Infections.

[10]  S. Birkelund,et al.  Mycoplasma genitalium, Chlamydia trachomatis, and tubal factor infertility--a prospective study. , 2008, Fertility and sterility.

[11]  J. Jensen,et al.  A comparative study of three different PCR assays for detection of Mycoplasma genitalium in urogenital specimens from men and women. , 2008, Journal of medical microbiology.

[12]  J. Jensen,et al.  A serological study of the role of Mycoplasma genitalium in pelvic inflammatory disease and ectopic pregnancy , 2007, Sexually Transmitted Infections.

[13]  C. Cohen,et al.  Detection of Mycoplasma genitalium in women with laparoscopically diagnosed acute salpingitis , 2005, Sexually Transmitted Infections.

[14]  S. Birkelund,et al.  Development of a Quantitative Real-Time PCR Assay for Detection of Mycoplasma genitalium , 2005, Journal of Clinical Microbiology.

[15]  P. Korrovits,et al.  Mycoplasmas in semen of chronic prostatitis patients , 2005, Scandinavian journal of urology and nephrology.

[16]  S. Kerry,et al.  Prevalence of Mycoplasma genitalium in early pregnancy and relationship between its presence and pregnancy outcome , 2004, BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology.

[17]  J. Jensen,et al.  Comparison of First Void Urine and Urogenital Swab Specimens for Detection of Mycoplasma genitalium and Chlamydia trachomatis by Polymerase Chain Reaction in Patients Attending a Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic , 2004, Sexually transmitted diseases.

[18]  J. Jensen,et al.  Symptomatic urethritis is more prevalent in men infected with Mycoplasma genitalium than with Chlamydia trachomatis , 2004, Sexually Transmitted Infections.

[19]  J. Jensen,et al.  Use of TaqMan 5′ Nuclease Real-Time PCR for Quantitative Detection of Mycoplasma genitalium DNA in Males with and without Urethritis Who Were Attendees at a Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic , 2004, Journal of Clinical Microbiology.

[20]  J. Krieger,et al.  Prostatitis: what is the role of infection. , 2002, International journal of antimicrobial agents.

[21]  I. Casin,et al.  High Prevalence of Mycoplasma genitalium in the Lower Genitourinary Tract of Women Attending a Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic in Paris, France , 2002, Sexually transmitted diseases.