Prevalence of Mycoplasma genitalium, Mycoplasma hominis and Chlamydia trachomatis among Danish patients requesting abortion

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine lower genital tract carriage rate of Mycoplasma genitalium (M. genitalium) and to compare it to the carriage rates of Mycoplasma hominis (M. hominis ) and Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) among 102 women requesting termination of pregnancy at the Horsens Hospital in Denmark. Real-Time PCR was used for the detection of bacterial DNA, and the presence of antibodies to the three microorganisms was determined by ELISA and immunoblotting. Real-Time PCR detected M. genitalium in one swab sample (0.98%) only, while the prevalence of C. trachomatis was high (15.69%) and M. hominis colonization (18.63%) was similar to colonization observed among sexually experienced adults. There was a significant difference in prevalence of M. hominis infection in the different age groups. C. trachomatis load in the cervical samples was significantly higher among young patients. There was no correlation between the presence of genital infection with C. trachomatis and genital mycoplasmas and no correlation between the presence of antibodies to these bacteria. In conclusion, in Danish patients it is not necessary to test for M. genitalium before abortion since less than 1% were found positive. The prevalence of genital C. trachomatis infections was high among the abortion-seeking patients.