ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: There is increasing interest in Mycoplasma genitalium as a sexually transmissible pathogen. The clinical picture resembles that of Chlamydia trachomatis infection, but the natural course has not yet been well defined. There are no guidelines regarding who should be examined for M. genitalium. Most of the prevalence studies have been carried out in patients attending clinics for sexually transmissible diseases. We have examined the prevalence in samples sent from general practice requesting analysis for C. trachomatis. MATERIAL AND METHOD: During the period October 1 to December 31 2010, all samples sent to Molde Hospital, Norway, that queried C. trachomatis were examined also for M. genitalum. Both agents were examined using real time PCR. The PCR for C. trachomatis was performed using a CE labelled and IVD approved method from Roche. The PCR for M. genitalium was performed using an in-house method where the target gene is GAP. RESULT: A total of 950 patients were examined (Men n=225, women n=725). The prevalences of M. genitalium and C. trachomatis were 2.0 % and 10.0 % respectively (men 4.0 % and 15.1 %, women 1.4 % and 8.4 %). CONCLUSION: Because of the low prevalence, we recommend selection of patients for examination for M. genitalium. The difference in prevalence between the sexes can reflect different indications for sample taking.
Subject(s)
Chlamydia trachomatis , Mycoplasma genitalium , Sexually Transmitted Diseases/microbiology , Chlamydia Infections/diagnosis , Chlamydia Infections/epidemiology , Chlamydia trachomatis/classification , Chlamydia trachomatis/isolation & purification , Female , Humans , Male , Mycoplasma Infections/diagnosis , Mycoplasma Infections/epidemiology , Mycoplasma genitalium/classification , Mycoplasma genitalium/isolation & purification , Norway/epidemiology , Patient Selection , Prevalence , Sexually Transmitted Diseases/epidemiologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Certain microorganisms may be associated with the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). These pathogens may possess such properties as immunological capability or tissue invasiveness. An association between Yersinia enterocolitica infection and ulcerative colitis (UC) was suggested 30 years ago, and a connection with Crohn's disease (CD) may also exist. The aim of this study was to further elucidate the association between Y. enterocolitica O:3 infection and IBD. METHODS: During the period 1990-1997, antibody response against Y. enterocolitica was estimated in 1588 patients by tube agglutination. Forty-one patients with Y. enterocolitica infection (titer = 320) constituted the study group; 1041 patients without antibody response constituted the control group. The study was completed in 2003, after 6-13 years. RESULTS: At diagnosis of Y. enterocolitica infection, UC of acute onset was demonstrated in three males; another suffered from CD. At follow-up, two additional patients had developed UC and two CD. In the control group, 32 patients were diagnosed as having UC and 10 CD. This difference in IBD prevalence is significant (8/41>42/1041, p=0.00035), as were the differences in prevalence of UC and CD separately (p=0.006; viz. p<0.015). CONCLUSION: The present study supports the concept of the Y. enterocolitica infection as a trigger of chronic IBD.
