Prevalence of Mycoplasma genitalium and other sexually-transmitted pathogens among high-risk individuals in Greece.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) infection among individuals at high risk for sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs) at a major urban STD clinic in Athens, in view of the lack of data pertaining to this infection in Greece. METHODS: Urethral and cervical samples from 176 individuals consecutively attending the clinic and agreeing to participate were prospectively collected and tested for MG infection using conventional PCR and TaqMan Real-Time PCR. All individuals were also examined for alternative STD pathogens. RESULTS: A total of 161 individuals (91.5%) reported symptoms, while 15 individuals (8.5%) were asymptomatic. MG was detected in 5.7% (10/176) of the total population and in 5.6% (9/161) of those with symptoms, corresponding to 5.7% (5/87) of symptomatic men and 5.4% (4/74) of symptomatic women. Among symptomatic males, 3.4% (3/87) displayed MG mono-infection. The median age of MG infected individuals was 25 years (IQR 21.5-29.5 years). Individuals infected with MG were more likely to be coinfected with Ureaplasma spp. [OR=5.12, 95%CI, 1.27-20.57] (p=0.017). MG infection was also more common among individuals who had received antibiotics in the previous 15 days [OR=6.04, 95%CI, 1.37-26.64] (p=0.035). CONCLUSION: MG was found to represent an important microbial pathogen among patients presenting with symptoms of urethritis or cervicitis in Greece. Consideration of MG as cause of STD seems crucial in diagnostic algorithms and treatment strategies.

Bacterial adhesion, intracellular survival and cytokine induction upon stimulation of mononuclear cells with planktonic or biofilm phase Staphylococcus epidermidis.

Staphylococcus epidermidis is a leading cause of hospital-acquired and biofilm-associated infections. Interactions of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and monocyte-derived macrophages with planktonic or biofilm phase S. epidermidis cells were studied. Biofilm phase bacteria exhibited higher attachment, as well as, a 10-fold higher intracellular survival in monocyte-derived macrophages than their planktonic counterparts. Stimulation of PBMCs and monocyte-derived macrophages was performed with live or formalin-fixed bacterial cells. Supernatant concentration of selected cytokines was measured by Luminex(®) xMAP(™) technology at different time points. As compared to planktonic phase, biofilm phase bacteria elicited lower amounts of proinflammatory cytokines and Th1 response cytokines, such as TNFα, IL-12p40, IL-12p70 and IFN-γ, whereas they enhanced production of IL-8, GM-CSF and IL-13. This phenomenon was independent of formalin pretreatment. Taken together, these results may contribute to interpretation of observed silent course of biofilm-associated infections.