title: Ureaplasma parvum and Mycoplasma genitalium are found to be significantly associated with microscopy-confirmed urethritis in a routine genitourinary medicine setting.
abstract: Inflammation of the urethra defined by an excess of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the absence of sexually transmitted Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae is called non-chlamydial non-gonococcal urethritis (NCNGU). Although Mycoplasma genitalium is now recognised as causing a sexually transmitted infection, the clinical significance of the other Mollicute species is less clear. This study used specific real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays to detect and quantify four Mollicute species, M. genitalium, M. hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum and U. parvum, in urine specimens from men with and without NCNGU. A total of 165 urine specimens from male patients attending a genitourinary medicine clinic were eligible for the study, with microscopy-confirmed (≥5 polymorphonuclear leukocytes in urethral swab) NCNGU in 75 (45.5%) and non-confirmed NCNGU in 90 (54.5%). Chi-squared statistical analysis indicated a significantly higher prevalence of U. parvum (17.3% vs. 5.6%; p = 0.03) and M. genitalium (12% vs. 0%; p < 0.001) in NCNGU. In a subset analysis, M. genitalium was also significantly (p = 0.03) higher in men who have sex with men (MSM; 13.5%) compared to non-MSM (3.1%). No significant associations were reported for U. urealyticum and M. hominis In conclusion, this study supports a clinically significant role in NGNCU for both U. parvum and M. genitalium.
authors.affiliation: Regional Virus Laboratory, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast, UK.
authors.forename: Ciara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.affiliation: Regional Virus Laboratory, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast, UK.
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: McKenna
authors.affiliation: Regional Virus Laboratory, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast, UK.
authors.forename: Alison P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Watt
authors.affiliation: Regional Virus Laboratory, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast, UK peter.coyle@belfasttrust.hscni.net.
authors.forename: Peter V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Coyle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D045704:Mycoplasma genitalium / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019535:Mycoplasma hominis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015995:Prevalence; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014509:Ureaplasma / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016869:Ureaplasma Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D016990:Ureaplasma urealyticum / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014526:Urethritis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000652:urine; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D014556:Urine / Q000382:microbiology
keywords: M. genitalium; Non-gonococcal non-chlamydial urethritis; U. parvum; men; real-time quantitative PCR; sexually transmitted infection