Mycoplasma genitalium: prevalence, clinical significance, and transmission.
OBJECTIVE
To study the prevalence, symptoms and signs of Mycoplasma genitalium and Chlamydia trachomatis infections in STD clinic attendees and in partners of M genitalium infected patients.


METHODS
M genitalium and C trachomatis were detected by polymerase chain reaction from urethral and endocervical swab specimens in a cross sectional study among 445 female and 501 male STD clinic attendees. Partners of 26 female and 26 male M genitalium positive index patients were examined.


RESULTS
The prevalence of C trachomatis and M genitalium was 4% and 6.3%, respectively, among the women and 5.4% and 6%, respectively, among the men. Dual infections were uncommon. M genitalium was strongly associated with urethritis in both men and women and with cervicitis in women. Among M genitalium infected men, symptomatic urethritis was more common than asymptomatic urethritis. M genitalium and C trachomatis were not associated with symptoms of urethritis or cervicitis in women. Of 26 male partners of M genitalium positive female index patients, 38% were positive, and 77% of the negative partners had symptoms of urethritis. The concordance rate for 22 female partners of male index patients was 45%. For both men and women the M genitalium prevalence was significantly higher in partners of M genitalium positive index patients than in M genitalium negative index patients with urethritis and/or cervicitis.


CONCLUSIONS
M genitalium is associated with urethritis in both men and women and with cervicitis in women. A high concordance rate was found among sexual partners of M genitalium infected patients, indicating that the infection is sexually transmitted.
Anagrius
C
C
Department of Venereology, Falu Lasarett, SE-791 82 Falun, Sweden. carin.anagrius@ltdalarna.se
Loré
B
B
Jensen
J S
JS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D016358:Contact Tracing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D045704:Mycoplasma genitalium; D015995:Prevalence; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014526:Urethritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D002575:Uterine Cervicitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology