Abstract
BackgroundAlthough Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI), very little information regarding the prevalence of MG among MSM (men who have sex with men) is available in China. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of MG among MSM in the city of Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China, and to identify the potential risk factors associated with MG infection in this population.MethodsBetween January and May 2010, a total of 409 MSM were recruited in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China. An anonymous questionnaire was used to collect information regarding their sociological and sexual behaviors. In addition, their first-void urine (FVU) samples and rectal swabs were collected for PCR-based MG testing.ResultsAmong the 406 FVU and 405 rectal swab samples were collected from 409 MSM, the overall MG prevalence was 8.1% (33/406, 95% CI 5.7%-10.6%), with a FVU positivity of 3.4% (95% CI 1.7%-5.4%) and a rectal positivity of 5.4% (95% CI 3.5%-7.7%). Using both univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses, urethral MG infection was significantly associated with having more heterosexual behaviors (AOR 7.16, 95% CI 1.89-27.13), and with having unprotected anal intercourse in the past six months (AOR 4.80, 95% CI 1.40-16.47). Rectal MG infection was significantly associated with HIV infection based on univariate logistic regression analysis (OR = 4.49, 95% CI 1.18-17.12).ConclusionsIn this study, we investigated the prevalence of MG infection in the population of interest, as determined from both urethral and rectal specimen. We showed that MG was more prevalent in MSM who had bisexual behaviors compared to those who engaged only in homosexual behaviors. Further work is needed to establish the mode of MG transmission and to identify its role in HIV transmission. Meanwhile, more attention should be paid to MG infection among MSMs, and especially bisexual MSMs, which might have critical implications for effective HIV/STD control in China.
Highlights
Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI), very little information regarding the prevalence of MG among men who have sex with men (MSM) is available in China
Our results showed that 34.3% (134/390) of participants identified themselves as homosexual men and 61.5% (240/390) of participants reported having sexual intercourse only with men or more with men than with women
Regardless of differences in MG detection method and MG prevalence in different areas, all studies have found that MG was more likely to be detected in the rectal specimens than in first-void urine (FVU) in the MSM population, indicating that anorectal mucosa might be infected with MG in the population who had anal sex
Summary
Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI), very little information regarding the prevalence of MG among MSM (men who have sex with men) is available in China. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of MG among MSM in the city of Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China, and to identify the potential risk factors associated with MG infection in this population. Accumulating evidence supports that Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) pathogen that can cause non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) in men [1,2,3] and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women [4,5]. There have been limited number of epidemiological studies on MG infection worldwide and data on the Guangdong Province, China, and (ii) to identify the potential risk factors for MG infection
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