Mycoplasma genitalium among young adults in the United States: an emerging sexually transmitted infection

Am J Public Health. 2007 Jun;97(6):1118-25. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2005.074062. Epub 2007 Apr 26.

Abstract

Objectives: We sought to determine the prevalence of and risk factors associated with Mycoplasma genitalium infection in a nationally representative sample of young adults in the United States.

Methods: Urine specimens from 1714 women and 1218 men who participated in Wave III of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (N=14322) were tested for M genitalium. Poststratification sampling weights were used to generate nationally representative estimates.

Results: The prevalence of M genitalium was 1.0% compared with 0.4%, 4.2%, and 2.3% for gonococcal, chlamydial, and trichomonal infections, respectively. No M genitalium-positive individuals reported symptoms of discharge. M genitalium prevalence among those who reported vaginal intercourse was 1.1% compared with 0.05% among those who did not. In multivariate analyses, M genitalium prevalence was 11 times higher among respondents who reported living with a sexual partner, 7 times higher among Blacks, and 4 times higher among those who used condoms during their last vaginal intercourse. Prevalence of M genitalium increased by 10% for each additional sexual partner.

Conclusions: M genitalium was more prevalent than Neisseria gonorrhoeae but less prevalent than Chlamydia trachomatis, and it was strongly associated with sexual activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Communicable Diseases, Emerging / epidemiology*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mycoplasma Infections / epidemiology*
  • Mycoplasma genitalium / isolation & purification*
  • Poisson Distribution
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Sexual Behavior
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Bacterial / epidemiology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • United States / epidemiology