Tetracycline treatment does not eradicate Mycoplasma genitalium.
OBJECTIVE
To study the treatment efficacy of tetracyclines and azithromycin in Mycoplasma genitalium positive patients attending an STD clinic.


METHODS
All M genitalium positive patients (34 men and 26 women) attending an STD clinic during a 6 month period were treated with antibiotics. All patients known to be partners of M genitalium positive patients and those who were M genitalium positive, but not initially treated, were treated with azithromycin. Patients with urethritis and/or cervicitis were treated with tetracyclines before their M genitalium status was known.


RESULTS
10 of 14 women (71%) and 10 of 16 men (63%) treated with tetracyclines were M genitalium positive at follow up, whereas all patients treated with azithromycin (16 men and 20 women) were M genitalium negative, at the 4 week follow up visit.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that tetracyclines are not sufficient to eradicate M genitalium. Randomised controlled treatment trials are urgently needed.
Falk
L
L
Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Orebro University Hospital, Orebro, Sweden. lars.falk@orebroll.se
Fredlund
H
H
Jensen
J S
JS
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005832:Genital Diseases, Male / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000187:drug effects*; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017963:Azithromycin; D013752:Tetracycline