Young Women With Multiple Partners Are More Likely to Have M Genitalium Infection

Women who are younger than 25 years old and have multiple sexual partners are more likely to have Mycoplasma genitalium infection, according to results of a new analysis. Moreover, having other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) increases the risk for M genitalium infection.

To conduct their anaylsis, the researchers tested urine, vaginal, endocervical, and rectal specimens from women aged 18 years or older who presented to a single STD clinic in New Orleans, Louisiana (N = 400). Participants also provided sociodemographic data, sexual behavior, and STI history.

The specimens were tested for bacteria species including M genitalium, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Trichomonas vaginalis.

Results of the analysis showed that age (<25 years) and 2 or more sexual partners in the last 12 months were independently significantly associated with M genitalium infection. In addition, N gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, and T vaginalis independently increased the odds of infection with M genitalium.

A secondary analysis that controlled for other STIs and bacterial vaginalis showed a positive trend for M genitalium to predict cervicitis.

“Mycoplasma genitalium in our study displayed the clinical features of C trachomatis and N gonorrhoeae, the 2 organisms that drive research agendas in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of bacterial STIs,” the researchers concluded.

—Amanda Balbi

Reference:

Lillis RA, Martin DH, Nsuami MJ. Mycoplasma genitalium infections in women attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic in New Orleans. Clin Infect Dis. 2019;69(3):459-465. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciy922.