Mycoplasma genitalium: an organism commonly associated with cervicitis among west African sex workers

• Published in: Sexually transmitted infections 2005-02, Vol.81 (1), p.67-72
• Main Authors: Pépin, J, Labbé, A-C, Khonde, N, Deslandes, S, Alary, M, Dzokoto, A, Asamoah-Adu, C, Méda, H, Frost, E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adjusted odds ratio; Adolescent; Adult; Africa; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Antibiotics; AOR; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial diseases of the genital system; Benin - epidemiology; Biological and medical sciences; Bénin; cervicitis; Cervix; Chlamydia; Chlamydia Infections - epidemiology; Chlamydia trachomatis; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; female sex workers; Follow-Up Studies; FSW; General aspects; Ghana; Ghana - epidemiology; Gonorrhea; Gonorrhea - epidemiology; HIV; Human bacterial diseases; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human infectious diseases. Experimental studies and models; Humans; Infections; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Mycoplasma; Mycoplasma genitalium; Mycoplasma Infections - drug therapy; Mycoplasma Infections - epidemiology; NAAT; Neisseria gonorrhoeae; nucleic acid amplification tests; Pathogens; PCR; polymerase chain reaction; Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; Regression analysis; Risk Factors; Sex industry; Sex Work; Sexually transmitted diseases; sexually transmitted infections; STD; STI; Trichomonas Infections - epidemiology; Trichomonas vaginalis; Uterine Cervicitis - microbiology
• ISSN: 1368-4973; 1472-3263
• DOI: 10.1136/sti.2003.009100

Objectives: To identify the contribution of Mycoplasma genitalium to the aetiology of cervicitis in sub-Saharan Africa and its relative importance in the overall burden of sexually transmitted infections among female sex workers (FSW). Methods: The study population consisted of FSW recruited in Ghana and Bénin during the initial visit of a randomised controlled trial. A questionnaire was administered, a pelvic examination carried out, and cervical samples obtained for detection of M genitalium, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Trichomonas vaginalis. Clinical signs potentially indicating cervicitis were cervical discharge, pus on the cervical swab, bleeding after sampling, and inflammatory cervix. Results: Among 826 FSW, 26.3% were infected with M genitalium. N gonorrhoeae was strongly and independently associated with each of the four signs of cervicitis (adjusted odds ratios (AOR): 4.1 to 6.0). The AOR for C trachomatis were intermediate (1.3–4.1) and the AOR for M genitalium were lower (between 1.6 and 1.8) but statistically significant (p⩽0.05) for each sign. Conclusions:M genitalium is weakly associated with signs of cervicitis in west African FSW but is highly prevalent.