The contribution of Mycoplasma genitalium to the aetiology of sexually acquired infectious proctitis in men who have sex with men

Melanie Bissessor, Sepehr N Tabrizi, Catriona Bradshaw, Christopher Kit Fairley, Jane Simone Hocking, Suzanne Garland, Jimmy Twin, Marin Poljak, Joanne Peel, Marcus Y Chen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

70 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This study examined the contribution of Mycoplasma genitalium to sexually acquired infectious proctitis in men who have sex with men (MSM). MSM with symptomatic proctitis between May 2012 and August 2013 were tested for rectal sexually transmitted infections including chlamydia, gonorrhoea, herpes simplex virus (HSV) and M. genitalium. The load of rectal M. genitalium in men with symptomatic proctitis was compared with a separate group of men who had rectal M. genitalium but no symptoms of proctitis. Among 154 MSM with proctitis, rectal M. genitalium was detected in 18 men (12%, 95% CI 6.9–17.1) and was significantly more common among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) -positive men (21%, 95% CI 9.5–32.6) than HIV-negative men (8%, 95% CI 2.9–13.1; prevalence ratio 3.2, 95% CI 1.2–8.8). Among HIV-positive men the detection of M. genitalium was comparable to that for chlamydia (21%, 95% CI 9.5–32.5), gonorrhoea (25%, 95% CI 16.2–41.8) and HSV (19%, 95% CI 7.9–30.1). Rectal M. genitalium load was significantly higher among the 18 men with symptomatic M. genitalium-associated proctitis than among a separate group of 18 men with asymptomatic rectal M. genitalium infection (60 000 copies of organism/swab versus 10 744 copies of organism/swab, p 0.023). Comprehensive testing for rectal pathogens in MSM with proctitis should include testing for M. genitalium.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)260 - 265
Number of pages6
JournalClinical Microbiology and Infection
Volume22
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2016

Keywords

  • Human immunodeficiency virus
  • Men who have sex with men
  • Mycoplasma genitalium
  • Proctitis
  • Sexually transmitted infections

Cite this