The association between Mycoplasma genitalium and HIV-1 acquisition in African women

AIDS. 2012 Mar 13;26(5):617-24. doi: 10.1097/QAD.0b013e32834ff690.

Abstract

Objective: Mycoplasma genitalium is an emerging sexually transmitted infection (STI) and has been associated with reproductive tract infections and HIV in cross-sectional studies. In this longitudinal study, we assess whether M. genitalium is associated with risk of acquiring HIV-1 infection.

Design: Nested case-control study within a large prospective study in Zimbabwe and Uganda

Methods: A total of 190 women who seroconverted to HIV-1 during follow-up (cases) were matched with up to two HIV-negative controls. Mycoplasma genitalium testing was performed by PCR-ELISA, using archived cervical samples from the HIV-1 detection visit and the last HIV-negative visit for cases, and equivalent visits in follow-up time for controls. Risk factors for HIV-1 acquisition were analyzed using conditional logistic regression, with M. genitalium as the primary exposure.

Results: Mycoplasma genitalium was a common infection in these populations (14.8 and 6.5% prevalence among cases and controls, respectively, at the visit prior to HIV-1 detection), and more prevalent than other nonviral STIs. We found a greater than two-fold independent increased risk of HIV-1 acquisition among women infected with M. genitalium at the visit prior to HIV-1 acquisition [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.42; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-5.80), and at time of HIV-1 acquisition (AOR = 2.18; 95% CI 0.98-4.85). An estimated 8.7% (95% CI 0.1-12.2%) of incident HIV-1 infections were attributable to M. genitalium.

Conclusion: This is the first longitudinal study to assess the relationship between M. genitalium and HIV-1 acquisition. If findings from this research are confirmed, M. genitalium screening and treatment among women at high risk for HIV-1 infection may be warranted as part of an HIV-1 prevention strategy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • HIV Infections / complications
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology*
  • HIV-1 / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Mycoplasma Infections / complications
  • Mycoplasma Infections / epidemiology*
  • Mycoplasma genitalium / isolation & purification*
  • Prevalence
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Risk Factors
  • Uganda / epidemiology
  • Young Adult
  • Zimbabwe / epidemiology