Prevalence of Mycoplasma genitalium in early pregnancy and relationship between its presence and pregnancy outcome.

Mycoplasma genitalium is associated with cervicitis and pelvic inflammatory disease but little is known about its role in pregnancy. We investigated the prevalence of M. genitalium by polymerase chain reaction assay on urine specimens from 1216 pregnant women (mean age 31years) presenting before 10 weeks of gestation in 32 general practices.

Mycoplasma genitalium in chronic non-gonococcal urethritis.

Seventy-eight men with a history of chronic urethritis were referred for investigation. Of 52 men diagnosed as having persistent or recurrent non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) at the time of referral, 11 (21%) were infected with Mycoplasma genitalium and three with Chlamydia trachomatis. Men who were M.

Detection of several Mycoplasma species at various anatomical sites of homosexual men.

In order to determine the colonisation patterns of several Mycoplasma species in homosexual men, urethral, oral and rectal specimens from 10 homosexual men with acute non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) and 18 without NGU were examined using sensitive methods. Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum existed in both groups, which is in keeping with previous studies of heterosexual men. Mycoplasma genitalium was detected in the rectum of both NGU-positive and NGU-negative men and in the urethra of one man with chlamydia-negative NGU, but not in those without urethritis.

Relation between Gram-stain and clinical criteria for diagnosing bacterial vaginosis with special reference to Gram grade II evaluation.

The aim of this study was to analyse how the results of Gram-staining vaginal smears correlated with the clinical criteria for determining the existence of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and, in particular, how the category defined as 'intermediate' or Gram grade II did so and its significance. Women attending an antenatal clinic with an abnormal vaginal flora, that is those who had Gram-stains of grades II or III, the latter considered to equate with BV, were given clindamycin or a placebo intravaginally and examined again on up to three occasions. Gram-stain readings of grade III correlated with the clinical criteria for BV on 356 (91.

Antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis heat-shock protein 60 kDa and detection of Mycoplasma genitalium and ureaplasma urealyticum are associated independently with chronic nongonococcal urethritis.

Background: Chronic nongonococcal urethritis (NGU) is a well-recognized clinical problem in genitourinary medicine clinics, but its etiology and optimal management are poorly understood.

Goal: The authors showed previously that antibody to chlamydial hsp60 is associated with urethritis 30 to 92 days after treatment of acute NGU (chronic NGU) and that the detection of ureaplasmas or is associated with chronic NGU in which symptoms or signs are present. The aim was to determine whether these associations are independent of each other.

Observations on experimental colonisation of mice by ureaplasmas of human origin.

Three serovars (5, 8 and 10) of Ureaplasma urealyticum were inoculated intravaginally into groups of oestradiol-treated young adult BALB/c strain mice. Hormone treatment was essential for vaginal colonisation. The proportion of mice colonised initially and the persistence of colonisation were different with the three serovars; half of those given serovar 8 were still colonised after 84 days.

Oro-dental bacteria in various atherosclerotic arteries.

Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA has been detected in at least 40% of all major arteries affected by atherosclerosis, but several other microorganisms have also been detected. In this study, diseased vessels were evaluated for the presence of the DNA of seven oro-dental bacteria and two nonoral bacteria. A polymerase chain reaction technique was employed using primer pairs based on 16S rRNA genes.

Do all men attending departments of genitourinary medicine need to be screened for non-gonococcal urethritis?

We investigated the influence of symptoms and signs on the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium and Ureaplasma urealyticum organisms (ureaplasmas) in men with non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU). Two hundred and forty-two men attending the Jefferiss Wing at St Mary's Hospital for a sexual health assessment were evaluated, of whom 169 had NGU. Urethral inflammation was diagnosed if there were either > or =5 polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNLs) per high-power field (HPF) in five or more microscope fields of a Gram-stained urethral smear, or > or =10 PMNLs per HPF in five or more fields of a Gram-stained thread from 15-20 mL of a first-passed urine (FPU) specimen.

Coexistence of urethritis with genital ulcer disease in South Africa: influence on provision of syndromic management.

Objective: To assess whether syndromic management of genital ulcer disease was sound, if based on the premise that men with genital ulcers rarely have a concomitant urethral infection.

Methods: Specimens were taken in 1998 from 186 mine workers in Carletonville, South Africa, who were seen consecutively with genital ulcers. The specimens comprised a swab from the ulcer, a urethral swab for a Gram stained smear, and 10-15 ml of a first catch urine sample.

Bacterial vaginosis in climacteric and menopausal women.

The objective was to determine how frequently an abnormal vaginal flora occurred in women attending a menopause clinic and whether any abnormality might be related to a particular risk factor. Women completed a questionnaire on their gynaecological, sexual and medical history. Whether they were perimenopausal or postmenopausal was determined on the basis of symptomatology, duration of amenorrhoea and on a follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) assay when clinically indicated.

Evaluation of liquid culture media to support growth of Mobiluncus species.

Mobiluncus curtisii and M. mulieris are anaerobic, gram-negative, motile curved rods isolated commonly from the vagina of women with bacterial vaginosis. Hitherto, there has been difficulty in isolating and growing these bacteria and little attention has been paid to growth in liquid media.

Observations on the microbiology of urethritis in black South African men.

The occurrence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium was determined by molecular techniques in urine specimens from 182 black South African men who had symptoms and/or overt signs of urethritis. Eighty-six (47.3%) of these men were infected with N.

Chlamydia pneumoniae in infrequently examined blood vessels.

Aim: To determine the prevalence of Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA in infrequently examined blood vessels.

Methods: Vessels obtained from 15 men and six women at coronary artery bypass surgery were tested by a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for C pneumoniae DNA.

Results: Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA was detected in four of six atheromatous ascending aorta specimens but in none of eight non-atheromatous aorta specimens, in six of 11 atheromatous internal mammary artery specimens but in none of seven non-atheromatous internal mammary artery specimens, in five of seven long saphenous vein specimens showing evidence of disease but in none of 12 specimens without evidence of disease, and in two of three previously grafted veins.

Mycoplasma genitalium -- an up-date.

Mycoplasma genitalium was first isolated from men with non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) more than 20 years ago. Use of polymerase chain reaction technology has shown it to be a cause of acute NGU and probably chronic NGU, almost independently of Chlamydia trachomatis, but there is no substantial evidence that it causes acute or chronic prostatitis. In women, M.

The prevalence of Mycoplasma fermentans in patients with inflammatory arthritides.

Objectives: To search for evidence that Mycoplasma fermentans is involved in the pathogenesis of some forms of human arthritis by testing for the presence of mycoplasmal DNA in joint material.

Methods: M. fermentans DNA was detected by the identification of a 104-base pair amplification product of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Detection of Mycoplasma fermentans in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid specimens from AIDS patients with lower respiratory tract infection.

Objective: To investigate the role of Mycoplasma fermentans in lower respiratory tract disease of HIV-positive patients.

Methods: A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was used to detect M. fermentans in broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) collected from 78 hospitalized HIV-positive patients with lower respiratory tract disease (the index group).