title: Mycoplasma genitalium infection and persistence in a cohort of female sex workers in Nairobi, Kenya.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to assess the risk factors for and persistence of Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) in a highly exposed female population in Kenya.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred fifty-eight sex workers in Nairobi, Kenya, 18 to 35 years of age, were enrolled. Every 2 months, cervical samples were collected for MG, Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) testing by polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At enrollment, 16% were infected with MG. Seventy-seven subjects acquired 107 MG infections, giving an incidence of 22.7 per 100 women-years. Incident CT (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 2.4; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.5-4.0), GC (HR = 2.0; 95% CI = 1.2-3.5), and HIV infection (adjusted HR = 2.2; 95% CI = 1.3-3.7) were associated with an increased risk of MG. Seventeen percent, 9%, and 21% of MG infections persisted 3, 5, and >or=7 months, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high incidence of MG, greater than that for both CT (14.0%) and GC (8%), association with common sexually transmitted infection risk factors, and persistence in the female genital tract supports its role as a common sexually transmitted infection in Kenyan women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, CA, USA. ccohen@globalhealth.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Craig R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Marcianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nosek
authors.forename: Amalia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meier
authors.forename: Sabina G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Astete
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iverson-Cabral
authors.forename: Nelly R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Mugo
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Totten
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D045704:Mycoplasma genitalium / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012008:Recurrence; D011477:Sex Work; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014626:Vaginal Smears
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial