Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction for the Diagnosis of Mycoplasma genitalium Infection in South African Men With and Without Symptoms of Urethritis.

Background: This study was done to diagnose Mycoplasma genitalium infection based on bacterial load in urine specimens from symptomatic and asymptomatic men.

Methods: Urine specimens from 94 men with visible urethral discharge, 206 with burning on micturition and 75 without symptoms presenting to a family practitioner were tested for M. genitalium as well as Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Trichomonas vaginalis by transcription-mediated amplification assays.