title: Mucopurulent cervicitis and Mycoplasma genitalium.
abstract: Many cases of mucopurulent cervicitis (MPC) are idiopathic and cannot be attributed to the known cervical pathogens Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, or herpes simplex virus. Because Mycoplasma genitalium is associated with nongonoccocal urethritis in men, its role in MPC, the corresponding syndrome in women, was investigated. Archived cervical specimens from women recruited in the Harborview Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic in Seattle from 1984 to 1986 were tested, using polymerase chain reaction, in a study that identified other causes of and risk factors for MPC. M. genitalium was detected in 50 (7.0%) of 719 women. Young age, multiple recent partners, prior miscarriage, smoking, menstrual cycle, and douching were positively associated with M. genitalium, whereas bacterial vaginosis and cunnilingus were negatively associated. After adjustment for age, phase of menstrual cycle, and presence of known cervical pathogens, women with M. genitalium had a 3.3-fold greater risk (95% confidence interval, 1.7-6.4) of MPC, which suggests that this organism may be a cause of MPC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA. lmanhart@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Lisa E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Manhart
authors.forename: Cathy W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Critchlow
authors.forename: King K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Holmes
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Dutro
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Eschenbach
authors.forename: Claire E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Totten
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D015231:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014505:Urban Population; D002575:Uterine Cervicitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D014861:Washington / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial