High prevalence of Mycoplasma genitalium in the lower genitourinary tract of women attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic in Paris, France.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies have suggested that Mycoplasma genitalium is associated with cervicitis and may be a cause of pelvic inflammatory disease. This study attempted to investigate further the possible role of M genitalium in genital symptoms of women attending a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of and the association of clinical and microbiologic features with M genitalium in women presenting with genital symptoms.


METHODS
Between April 1994 and June 1996 a prospective study of 170 consecutive women with abnormal vaginal discharge, with or without urethral itching, dysuria, or pelvic pain, was conducted at the STD clinic at Saint-Louis Hospital in Paris. Information was collected on each subject's characteristics, and a clinical vulvar, vaginal, and cervical examination was performed. Cervical, vaginal, and urethral samples were obtained to identify infecting organisms.


RESULTS
DNA of M genitalium was identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at one or more genital sites in 65 women (38%; 95% CI, 31-46%) and was statistically more frequently detected in the vagina (39%) than in the cervix (21%) or urethra (28%) (P = 0.001 and 0.048, respectively). PCR inhibitors were detected in 17 specimens (4%). M genitalium was found in 6/14 (43%) positive for Chlamydia trachomatis, but no significant association between M genitalium and any demographic, clinical, or microbiologic data was noted in univariable or multivariable analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates that M genitalium is frequently encountered in the female genital tract and is not associated with cervicitis or any particular clinical or microbiologic data.
Casin
Isabelle
I
Laboratoire de Bactériologie, University Paris VII, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France.
Vexiau-Robert
Dominique
D
De La Salmonière
Pauline
P
Eche
Aline
A
Grandry
Bernadette
B
Janier
Michel
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010297:Paris / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric