Prevalence of genital mycoplasma in patients with genital tract infection attending a tertiary care hospital in South India.

BACKGROUND

Genital mycoplasmas are emerging sexually transmitted pathogens implicated in genitourinary infections, with their incidence increasing in recent years. They frequently cause asymptomatic, recurrent, and chronic infections, leading to pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility, thus posing a significant public health challenge.

AIM: The study aimed to determine the prevalence of Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis, and Mycoplasma genitalium among patients presenting with genital tract infections in a tertiary care hospital in South India.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

This prospective observational study was conducted from June 2022 to June 2024 in the department of dermatovenereology and leprology. Sexually active males and females (≥18 years) with genital discharge, dysuria, and lower abdominal pain were enrolled in the study. Vaginal, endocervical, and urethral discharge samples were subjected to preliminary microscopic examination (10% potassium hydroxide, Gram stain, and wet mount) and polymerase chain reaction for U. urealyticum, M. hominis, and M. genitalium.

RESULTS

Among 79 patients (10 males and 69 females), the overall prevalence of genital mycoplasmas was 43% (34/79). U. urealyticum was detected in 40.5% (32/79), while M. hominis was found in 6.3% (5/79). Coinfection with U. urealyticum and M. hominis was noted in 3.8% (3/79). No cases of M. genitalium were detected. Among U. urealyticum cases, 28.1% had candidiasis, 9.3% had bacterial vaginosis, and 6.2% had gonorrhea coinfections. M. hominis was associated with gonorrhea in 20% of cases.

CONCLUSION

In our study, genital mycoplasmas were detected in 43% of patients presenting with genital symptoms. This high prevalence highlights their clinical relevance and underscores the need for targeted PCR-based screening in sexually transmitted infection clinics, considering their frequent underdiagnosis.