Prevalence of Mycoplasma genitalium in men with urethritis in a large public hospital in Brussels, Belgium: An observational, cross-sectional study

PLoS One. 2018 Apr 26;13(4):e0196217. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196217. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Background: Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) is a cause of urethritis. While resistance to azithromycin is increasing, routine detection of MG is not performed in Belgium, where its prevalence is unknown. The aim of this study is to determine prevalence of MG in men with urethritis.

Method and findings: An "in-house" amplification assay detecting MG was performed on urine of men with complaints of urethritis who consulted the emergency unit or the Sexually Transmitted Infection clinic of our public hospital in Brussels. Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) were tested on the same sample. A total of 187 men were tested. Prevalence of MG was 9% (95% Confidence Interval: 5 to 13.2%). CT was detected in 20%, NG in 22% and 56% of samples were negative for these three pathogens. Neither age, ethnic origin, sexual orientation nor HIV infection were associated with MG urethritis.

Conclusion: M. genitalium was identified in 9% of men with complaints of urethritis indicating that amplification assay detecting MG should be implemented in routine testing for those patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Belgium / epidemiology
  • Chlamydia trachomatis / isolation & purification
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • DNA, Bacterial / metabolism
  • Hospitals, Public
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mycoplasma genitalium / genetics
  • Mycoplasma genitalium / isolation & purification*
  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae / isolation & purification
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Prevalence
  • Urethritis / diagnosis*
  • Urethritis / epidemiology
  • Urethritis / microbiology

Substances

  • DNA, Bacterial

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Association d'Aide à la Recherche Médicale André Vésale - www.associationvesale.be (Bourse de la Loterie Nationale Juin 2012, no grant number). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.