Mycoplasma genitalium (Mgen) is a complex bacterial infection that is transmitted through direct genital-genital contact. Although often asymptomatic, this sexually transmitted infection (STI) can be responsible for the pain and discomfort associated with cervicitis in women, and causes urethritis in males. The infection is responsible for approximately:
Mycoplasma genitalium is commonly asymptomatic in women.
This poses a significant challenge as the infection can unknowingly be transmitted from partner to partner.
Though this organism is seemingly in its infancy, research has proven Mgen to be more dangerous than initially realized.
If left untreated, Mycoplasma genitalium can lead to severe health complications for men and women. These include pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm delivery and miscarriage, increased risk of HIV acquisition, sexually acquired reactive arthritis, and infertility.3,4
Because of its more recent emergence as a sexually transmitted infection, most countries do not have a program in place for testing the infection status of Mycoplasma genitalium. However, due to the growing burden of disease, rising antibiotic resistance, and three-fold risk incurred for acquiring HIV, accurate and efficient diagnostic tools and methods are critical.
Today, advancements in nucleic acid amplification testing have made studying and diagnosing this infection possible, something that was never available in previous years. Mycoplasma genitalium is a fastidious organism which requires very specific nutrients and conditions to grow. This means that time consuming diagnostic techniques such as culture is inadequate for growing and diagnosing the organism.
Using PCR technology, scientists have been able to discover how this enigmatic organism functions and how it can be identified and treated in the growing patient population.
Antimicrobial resistance threatens the effective prevention and treatment of
bacterial infections, including Mgen. The emergence of antibiotic resistance in Mgen infections has led to a decrease in successful treatment since 20095 and continued empiric use of first-line antibiotics has resulted in the widespread transmission of resistant strains of Mgen.
Drug regulations and prescription policies play a crucial part in combatting antimicrobial resistance, but clinicians need to embrace new molecular diagnostic methods to detect these challenging strains and any associated antibiotic resistance.
Resistance Guided Therapy for Mgen dramatically improves cure rates4. Utilizing diagnostic tools to identify antimicrobial resistant strains of Mgen enables healthcare practitioners to decide on the most appropriate treatment choice.
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