Mycoplasma genitalium compared to chlamydia, gonorrhoea and trichomonas as an aetiological agent of urethritis in men attending STD clinics.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate prevalence of Mycoplasma genitalium, Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Trichomonas vaginalis in men, frequency of co-infections, and association of organisms with urethritis in men.


METHODS
This was a cross-sectional study of 290 men (age range 19-34 years) attending Baltimore City STD clinics. M genitalium, C trachomatis, N gonorrhoeae and T vaginalis, during 2004 were detected using nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) (153 with urethritis and 137 without urethritis). Demographic characteristics and risk factors were ascertained.


RESULTS
The overall prevalences of infection with C trachomatis, N gonorrhoeae, T vaginalis and M genitalium were 20.3%, 12.8%, 3.4% and 15.2%, respectively. Prevalences in men with urethritis were 32.7%, 24.2%, 5.2% and 22.2% for C trachomatis, N gonorrhoeae, T vaginalis and M genitalium, respectively. Percentages of co-infections were high. All men with N gonorrhoeae had urethritis. C trachomatis and M genitalium were found to be significantly associated with urethritis in univariate analysis and in multiple logistic regression analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
The association of M genitalium with urethritis in this study provides confirmation of the importance of screening men for M genitalium as a cause of non-gonococcal urethritis and supports treatment considerations for urethritis for agents other than gonococci and chlamydia.
Gaydos
C
C
Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. cgaydos@jhmi.edu
Maldeis
N E
NE
Hardick
A
A
Hardick
J
J
Quinn
T C
TC
D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D000818:Animals; D015142:Baltimore / Q000453:epidemiology; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D045704:Mycoplasma genitalium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D014246:Trichomonas vaginalis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014526:Urethritis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D055815:Young Adult