Detection of Mycoplasma genitalium and Trichomonas vaginalis Infections in General Jordanian Patients

Abstract

Problem statement: Both M. genitalium and T. vaginalis were recognized as important cause of sexually transmitted infections in developed countries. This study investigated the prevalence of M. genitalium and T. vaginalis in general Jordanian patients and their role of causing genitourinary tract diseases. Approach: A cross sectional study of 383 Jordanian adult patients aged between 19-78 years were investigated for presence of M. genitalium and T. vaginalis at the urology and obstetric-gynecology clinics at the Jordan University Hospital in Amman. First voided urine specimens were tested using urine microscopy, PCR for M. genitalium and T. vaginalis as well as culture for T. vaginalis. Results: The incidence of M. genitalium was higher and statistically significant (17/188, 9%, p = 0.022) than T. vaginalis (3/188; 1.6%) among patients diagnosed with specific urinary symptoms and signs, while this incidence was less but also significant in asymptomatic patients (7/195, 3.6% versus 1/195, 0.5%, p = 0.031), respectively. M. genitalium infection was frequently observed with urinary frequency (76%) and dysuria (59%) among symptomatic patients and more common in men than women (65% versus 35%, p = 0.51) and in married than singles (76% versus 24%, p = 0.59). Dual infection with both organisms was not recognized. Conclusion: Infection caused by M. genitalium and T. vaginalis was associated with higher incidence rate in patients with symptomatic genitourinary disease. Therefore, screening for their occurrence in such patients is important.

Prevalence of Mycoplasma genitalium in men with urethritis and in high risk asymptomatic males in Tel Aviv: a prospective study

“…In the majority of studies of urethritis in males attending an STI clinic, the rates of detection of T. vaginalis were low (<5%). 12,15,20,[22][23][24][25][26][27] The results of this study add further evidence of the association between male urethritis and M. genitalium, as documented by others. 4,5,[12][13][14]17,20,[30][31][32] M. genitalium was significantly more common in the group with symptomatic urethritis compared with the asymptomatic group (11.9% vs. 2.1%).…”

“…In the majority of studies of urethritis in males attending an STI clinic, the rates of detection of T. vaginalis were low (<5%). 12,15,20,22–27…”

Detection of Potential Sexually Transmitted Bacterial Pathogens by Molecular Methods

“…The association of M. genitalium with human disease and genital tract disease in particular, was made possible after the development of PCR technology [8,9]. There is strong evidence that M. genitalium is associated with nonspecific urethreitis in men, but there are not enough studies to support the contention that the bacterium can cause epididymitis and prostatitis and infertility [1,10,11]. PCR and serological studies of women have associated M. genitalium with PID, cervicitis, endometritis and infertility [9].…”

“…Serology in its more sophisticated forms may have a role in epidemiological studies but is not of value in clinical cases [12,13]. Nucleic acid amplification tests are the only available and reliable diagnostic tools for detection clinical disease due to M. genitalium, because of a very low load of mycoplasmas in some patients, tests with a very low limit of detection are needed in order to achieve sufficient assay sensitivity, but still there is no commercially available test has been released for diagnostic purposes [11,12].…”