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. 2025 May 19;25(1):128.
doi: 10.1186/s12894-025-01804-9.

Investigation of mycoplasma and ureaplasma species using a molecular method in male patients suffering from urethritis symptoms: a cross-sectional study in the city of Antalya

Tuncer Karpuz  1 , Murat Şambel  2 , Özlem Koyuncu Özyurt  1 , Ahmet Ender Caylan  3 , Ömer Kutlu  3 , Meral Dilara Öğünç  1 , Gözde Öngüt  1 , Betil Özhak  1 , Burak Saygılı  4 , Dilek Çolak  1 , Hatice Yazısız  5
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Investigation of mycoplasma and ureaplasma species using a molecular method in male patients suffering from urethritis symptoms: a cross-sectional study in the city of Antalya

Tuncer Karpuz et al. BMC Urol. .

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to determine whether Mycoplasma (M) genitalium, M. hominis, Ureaplasma (U) urealyticum, and U. parvum were present in male patients with symptoms of urethritis.

Methods: First-void urine and genital discharge samples were collected from 94 men. The samples were examined for the presence of M. genitalium, M. hominis, U. urealyticum, and U. parvum using a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method (BioGX Mycoplasma-Ureaplasma-OSR commercial multiplex PCR kit, BioGX, the Netherlands). The presence of Trichomonas vaginalis and Neisseria (N) gonorrhoeae was investigated using microscopy and culture methods. In the M. genitalium-positive samples, macrolide resistance was evaluated using the Macrolide-R/MG ELITe MGB Kit (ELITechGroup S.p.A., Italy) on the ELITe BeGenius system.

Results: A total of 55 microorganisms were detected in 41.5% of the patients (n = 39; U. urealyticum [n = 18], U. parvum [n = 14], N. gonorrhoeae [n = 9], M. hominis [n = 8], and M. genitalium [n = 6]). The positivity rates of M. genitalium and N. gonorrhoeae were statistically higher in the patients with more than 3 partners in the last 12 months, and those of U. urealyticum and N. gonorrhoeae were higher in the patients with genital discharge (p < 0.05). In addition, a significant relationship was found between N. gonorrhoeae positivity and genital itching and pain/discomfort during sexual intercourse (p < 0.05). Macrolide resistance was detected in 2 (33.3%) of the 6 M. genitalium-positive samples.

Conclusion: In this study, U. urealyticum, N. gonorrhoeae, and M. genitalium were detected in 19.1%, 9.6%, and 6.4% of the male patients who presented with symptoms of urethritis, respectively.

Keywords: Mycoplasma genitalium; Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Ureaplasma urealyticum; Polymerase chain reaction; Urethritis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: This study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine of Akdeniz on 10.11.2021, with (decision number KAEK-798). Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

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