Mycoplasma genitalium Infection and Persistence in a Cohort of Female Sex Workers in Nairobi, Kenya

• Published in: Sexually transmitted diseases 2007-05, Vol.34 (5), p.274-279
• Main Authors: COHEN, CRAIG R., NOSEK, MARCIANNA, MEIER, AMALIA, ASTETE, SABINA G., IVERSON-CABRAL, STEFANIE, MUGO, NELLY R., TOTTEN, PATRICIA A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Base Sequence; Biological and medical sciences; Chlamydia Infections - epidemiology; Chlamydia Infections - etiology; Chlamydia Infections - microbiology; Chlamydia Infections - prevention & control; Chlamydia trachomatis; Chlamydia trachomatis - isolation & purification; Cohort Studies; Confidence intervals; DNA, Bacterial - analysis; Epidemiology. Vaccinations; Female; Females; General aspects; Health risk assessment; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human infectious diseases. Experimental studies and models; Humans; Incidence; Infection; Infectious diseases; Kenya; Kenya - epidemiology; Medical sciences; Molecular Sequence Data; Mycoplasma genitalium; Mycoplasma genitalium - genetics; Mycoplasma genitalium - isolation & purification; Mycoplasma Infections - epidemiology; Mycoplasma Infections - etiology; Mycoplasma Infections - microbiology; Mycoplasma Infections - pathology; Mycoplasma Infections - prevention & control; Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Prostitutes; Recurrence; Risk factors; Sex Work; Sexually transmitted diseases; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - epidemiology; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - etiology; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - microbiology; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - pathology; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - prevention & control; STD; Studies; Vaginal Smears
• ISSN: 0148-5717; 1537-4521
• DOI: 10.1097/01.olq.0000237860.61298.54

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. Study Design: 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 ≥7 months, respectively. Conclusion: 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.