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Reproductive Health Sep 2023Recent studies have suggested that genital mycoplasma infections may be associated with male infertility. However, this association remains controversial due to time... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Recent studies have suggested that genital mycoplasma infections may be associated with male infertility. However, this association remains controversial due to time lapse, sample size, and regional prevalence.
OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to systematically evaluate the relationship between genital mycoplasma and male infertility through a meta-analysis and to provide a basis for the clinical management of male infertility.
METHODS
We conducted a search on PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and CNKI databases, from January 2000 to June 2023 to identify case-control studies on the interrelationship between genital mycoplasma infection and male infertility. Two independent researchers performed an assessment of the methodological quality of trials according to the Newcastle-Ottawa scale and extracted data strictly based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and afterward, we carried out a meta-analysis using Stata 16.0. Pooled odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to assess this relationship.
RESULTS
This meta-analysis included 21 studies from seven countries with a total of 53025 infertility cases and 6435 controls; the age range of the participating men was from 20 to 59 years old. The results obtained showed a higher prevalence of M. genitalium, M. hominis and U. urealyticum infections in infertile men than in the controls, with the opposite result for U. parvum (M. genitalium, OR, 3.438 [95% CI: 1.780, 6.643], with P = 0.000; M. hominis, OR, 1.840 [95% CI: 1.013, 3.343], with P = 0.045; U. urealyticum, OR, 3.278 [95% CI: 2.075, 5.180], with P = 0.000; U. parvum, OR, 1.671 [95% CI: 0.947, 2.950], with P = 0.077). Further, two subgroup analyses also showed that M. hominis and U. urealyticum infections were strongly associated with male infertility in China (M. hominis, P = 0.009; U. urealyticum, P = 0.000); however, M. hominis and U. urealyticum infection was not strongly associated with male infertility worldwide (M. hominis, P = 0.553; U. urealyticum, P = 0.050).
CONCLUSION
This meta-analysis revealed that male infertility was significantly associated with M. genitalium, M. hominis and U. urealyticum infections, while U. parvum infection was not. Further, our study showed that genital mycoplasma infection influences male infertility and provides a basis for future treatment.
Topics: Male; Humans; Young Adult; Adult; Middle Aged; Infertility, Male; Case-Control Studies; China; Mycoplasma Infections; Genitalia
PubMed: 37700294
DOI: 10.1186/s12978-023-01684-y -
The Lancet Regional Health. Europe Nov 2023This review explores the therapeutic challenges of sexually transmitted infections (STI) in Europe, which include increasing antimicrobial resistance and limited... (Review)
Review
This review explores the therapeutic challenges of sexually transmitted infections (STI) in Europe, which include increasing antimicrobial resistance and limited progress in drug discovery. We primarily focus on gonorrhoea, , and syphilis infections. For gonorrhoea with escalating resistance rates we explore the possibility of combining ceftriaxone with another antibiotic or using alternative antibiotics to mitigate resistance emergence, and we provide insights on the ongoing evaluation of new antimicrobials, like gepotidacin and zoliflodacin. In the case of which exhibits high resistance rates to first and second-line treatments, we emphasize the importance of resistance-guided therapy in regions with elevated resistance levels, and highlight the limited alternative options, such as pristinamycin and minocycline. Furthermore, we address the challenges posed by syphilis, where the primary treatment consists of penicillin or doxycycline, with challenges arising in neurosyphilis, allergy, pregnancy, and supply shortages and discuss the ongoing evaluation of alternative antimicrobials (e.g., ceftriaxone, cefixime, linezolid). Our findings identify priority actions and provide concrete solutions for long-term effective management of STIs and antimicrobial resistance mitigation.
PubMed: 37927440
DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2023.100737 -
Clinical Infectious Diseases : An... Nov 2023Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) is on the CDC Watch List of Antimicrobial Resistance Threats, yet there is no systematic surveillance to monitor change.
BACKGROUND
Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) is on the CDC Watch List of Antimicrobial Resistance Threats, yet there is no systematic surveillance to monitor change.
METHODS
We initiated surveillance in sexual health clinics in 6 cities, selecting a quota sample of urogenital specimens tested for gonorrhea and/or chlamydia. We abstracted patient data from medical records and detected MG and macrolide-resistance mutations (MRMs) by nucleic acid amplification testing. We used Poisson regression to estimate adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) and 95% CIs, adjusting for sampling criteria (site, birth sex, symptom status).
RESULTS
From October-December 2020 we tested 1743 urogenital specimens: 57.0% from males, 46.1% from non-Hispanic Black persons, and 43.8% from symptomatic patients. MG prevalence was 16.6% (95% CI: 14.9-18.5%; site-specific range: 9.9-23.5%) and higher in St Louis (aPR: 1.9; 1.27-2.85), Greensboro (aPR: 1.8; 1.18-2.79), and Denver (aPR: 1.7; 1.12-2.44) than Seattle. Prevalence was highest in persons <18 years (30.4%) and declined 3% per each additional year of age (aPR: .97; .955-.982). MG was detected in 26.8%, 21.1%, 11.8%, and 15.4% of urethritis, vaginitis, cervicitis, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), respectively. It was present in 9% of asymptomatic males and 15.4% of asymptomatic females, and associated with male urethritis (aPR: 1.7; 1.22-2.50) and chlamydia (aPR: 1.7; 1.13-2.53). MRM prevalence was 59.1% (95% CI: 53.1-64.8%; site-specific range: 51.3-70.6%). MRMs were associated with vaginitis (aPR: 1.8; 1.14-2.85), cervicitis (aPR: 3.5; 1.69-7.30), and PID cervicitis (aPR: 1.8; 1.09-3.08).
CONCLUSIONS
MG infection is common in persons at high risk of sexually transmitted infections; testing symptomatic patients would facilitate appropriate therapy. Macrolide resistance is high and azithromycin should not be used without resistance testing.
Topics: Female; Humans; Male; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Urethritis; Mycoplasma genitalium; Uterine Cervicitis; Sexual Health; Macrolides; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease; Vaginitis; Mycoplasma Infections; Prevalence
PubMed: 37402645
DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciad405 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2023Traditional drug susceptibility testing cannot be performed in clinical laboratories due to the slow-growing characteristics of when cultured . Sanger sequencing is the...
BACKGROUND
Traditional drug susceptibility testing cannot be performed in clinical laboratories due to the slow-growing characteristics of when cultured . Sanger sequencing is the standard method for detecting drug resistance-associated mutations. It has been used in some laboratories to guide the choice of macrolide antibiotics for infected patients. Furthermore, resistance to fluoroquinolone has become another emerging clinical challenge.
OBJECTIVE
Sequencing analysis can detect unknown mutations, but it is time-consuming, requires professional analytical skills and the appropriate testing equipment. The main objective of this study was to establish a nested real-time PCR method for the simultaneous detection of and genotypes in relation to the macrolide and fluoroquinolone resistance.
RESULTS
105 MG-positive samples and 27 samples containing other pathogens were used for validation. The limit of the nested real-time PCR detection was 500 copies/reaction and there was no cross-reaction with , , , , , , and , but the assay cross-reacted with . Compared with sequencing results, the sensitivity of was 100% (95% CI; 93.3 -100), the specificity was 94.3% (95% CI; 79.4 - 99.0), the overall consistency was 98% (95% CI; 92.5 - 99.7) and value was 0.96 ( < 0.001); the sensitivity of was 100% (95% CI; 93.4 - 100), the specificity was 89.7% (95% CI; 71.5 - 97.3) and the overall consistency was 96.9% (95% CI; 90.7 - 99.2) with a value of 0.92 ( < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
The results of this sensitive and rapid alternative for identifying resistant genotypes of are intuitive and easy to interpret, especially for mixed MG populations. Although the relevant primers need further adjustment, this reliable method would provide an effective diagnostic tool for the selection of antibiotics in clinical practice.
Topics: Humans; Fluoroquinolones; Mycoplasma genitalium; RNA, Ribosomal, 23S; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Macrolides; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Mycoplasma Infections; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Mutation
PubMed: 37928183
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1271392 -
Revista Espanola de Quimioterapia :... Oct 2023Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) are a major public health problem. The problems inherent to their diagnosis, treatment and prevention have to do not only with... (Review)
Review
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) are a major public health problem. The problems inherent to their diagnosis, treatment and prevention have to do not only with their nature, but also with organizational issues and overlapping competencies of the different health authorities in Spain. The real situation of STI in Spain, at present, is poorly known. For this reason, the Scientific Committee on COVID and Emerging Pathogens of the Illustrious Official College of Physicians of Madrid (ICOMEM) has formulated a series of questions on this subject which were distributed, not only among the members of the Committee, but also among experts outside it. The central health authorities provide very high and increasing figures for gonococcal infection, syphilis, Chlamydia trachomatis infection and lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV). Both HIV infection and Monkeypox are two important STI caused by viruses in our environment, to which it should be added, mainly, Herpes simplex virus (HSV) and Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. Emerging microorganisms such as Mycoplasma genitalium pose not only pathogenic challenges but also therapeutic problems, as in the case of N. gonohrroeae. The pathways that patients with suspected STI follow until they are adequately diagnosed and treated are not well known in Spain. Experts understand that this problem is fundamentally managed in public health institutions, and that Primary Care and Hospital Emergency Services, together with some institutions that deal monographically with this problem, are the recipients of most of these patients. One of the most serious difficulties of STI lies in the availability of the microbiological tests necessary for their diagnosis, particularly in this era of outsourcing of microbiology services. Added to this is the increased cost of implementing the latest generation of molecular techniques and the difficulties of transporting samples. It is clear that STI are not diseases to which the entire population is equally exposed and it is necessary to have a better knowledge of the risk groups where to focus the necessary interventions adapted to their characteristics. It should not be forgotten that STI are also a problem in the pediatric age group and that their presence can be a marker of sexual abuse with all that this implies in terms of health care and medicolegal activity. Finally, STI are infections that are associated with a high cost of care for which we have very little information. The possibility of expanding the automatic performance of laboratory tests for STI surveillance through laboratory routines is encountering ethical and legal problems that are not always easy to solve. Spain has created a ministerial area of specific attention to STI and there are plans to improve the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of these problems, but we still lack the necessary evidence on their impact. We cannot forget that these are diseases that transcend the individual and constitute a Public Health problem.
Topics: Humans; Child; HIV Infections; Spain; COVID-19; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Gonorrhea; Lymphogranuloma Venereum; Prevalence
PubMed: 37335757
DOI: 10.37201/req/038.2023 -
Clinical Infectious Diseases : An... Jun 2023Although single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in Mycoplasma genitalium parC contribute to fluoroquinolone treatment failure, data are limited for the homologous gene,...
BACKGROUND
Although single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in Mycoplasma genitalium parC contribute to fluoroquinolone treatment failure, data are limited for the homologous gene, gyrA. This study investigated the prevalence of gyrA SNPs and their contribution to fluoroquinolone failure.
METHODS
Samples from 411 patients (male and female) undergoing treatment for M. genitalium infection (Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, March 2019-February 2020) were analyzed by Sanger sequencing (gyrA and parC). For patients treated with moxifloxacin (n = 194), the association between SNPs and microbiologic treatment outcome was analyzed.
RESULTS
The most common parC SNP was G248T/S83I (21.1% of samples), followed by D87N (2.3%). The most common gyrA SNP was G285A/M95I (7.1%). Dual parC/gyrA SNPs were found in 8.6% of cases. One third of infections harboring parC G248T/S83I SNP had a concurrent SNP in gyrA conferring M95I. SNPs in gyrA cooccurred with parC S83I variations. Treatment failure was higher in patients with parC S83I/gyrA dual SNPs when compared with infections with single S83I SNP alone from analysis of (1) 194 cases in this study (81.2% vs 45.8%, P = .047), and (2) pooled analysis of a larger population of 535 cases (80.6% vs 43.2%; P = .0027), indicating a strong additive effect.
CONCLUSIONS
Compared with parC S83I SNP alone, M. genitalium infections with dual mutations affecting parC/gyrA had twice the likelihood of failing moxifloxacin. Although antimicrobial resistance varies by region globally, these data indicate that gyrA should be considered as a target for future resistance assays in Australasia. We propose a strategy for the next generation of resistance-guided therapy incorporating parC and gyrA testing.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Moxifloxacin; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Mycoplasma genitalium; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Mycoplasma Infections; Fluoroquinolones; Mutation; Macrolides
PubMed: 36722416
DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciad057 -
Canada Communicable Disease Report =... Nov 2023The bacteria has been identified as a causative agent of urethritis in men, especially in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM). Canadian...
BACKGROUND
The bacteria has been identified as a causative agent of urethritis in men, especially in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM). Canadian clinic-based data have identified a high prevalence of and resistance to antibiotic treatments. This article estimates the prevalence of infections among Montréal gbMSM, explores correlates for infection and estimates the prevalence of mutations associated with antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
METHODS
Engage Cohort Study is a multi-site longitudinal study on sexually active gbMSM, aged 16 years and older, recruited via respondent-driven sampling in Montréal, Toronto and Vancouver. Participants completed a questionnaire on behaviour and were tested for sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections at each visit. For this sub-study, Montréal participants with a follow-up visit that occurred between November 2018 and November 2019 were included.
RESULTS
A total of 2,064 samples were provided by 716 participants. Prevalence of infection was 5.7% at rectal and/or urethral sites, 4.0% at rectal site and 2.2% at urethral site. Correlates for infection were younger age and reporting six or more sexual partners in the past six months. Prevalence of macrolide resistance associated mutations (MRAM), quinolone resistance associated mutations (QRAM) and either MRAM or QRAM, was 82%, 29% and 85%, respectively.
CONCLUSION
This first population-based study among gbMSM in Canada documents a high prevalence of urethral and rectal infection and high levels of AMR. Our results highlight the importance of access to testing and AMR detection when indicated.
PubMed: 38504874
DOI: 10.14745/ccdr.v49i1112a03 -
Journal of Microbiology, Immunology,... May 2024Mycoplasma genitalium is an emerging etiology of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) with increasing resistance to antimicrobials. Surveillance on the epidemiology of...
BACKGROUND
Mycoplasma genitalium is an emerging etiology of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) with increasing resistance to antimicrobials. Surveillance on the epidemiology of M. genitalium infection and antimicrobial resistance is warranted.
METHODS
Between September 2021 and August 2023, people with HIV (PWH) and people without HIV (PWoH) at risk of STIs were screened for M. genitalium infection using a multiplex polymerase-chain-reaction assay of specimens collected from the rectum, urethra, oral cavity, and vagina. The prevalences of resistance-associated mutations (RAMs) of M. genitalium to fluoroquinolones, macrolides, and tetracycline were investigated.
RESULTS
During the 2-year study period, 1021 participants were enrolled, including 531 PWH and 490 PWoH. Overall, 83 (8.1%) and 34 (7.6%) participants had M. genitalium infection at baseline and during follow-up, respectively, with the rectum being the most common site of detection (61.5%). With the first course of antimicrobial treatment, 27 of 63 (42.9%) participants with M. genitalium infection were cured during follow-up, including 24 of 58 (41.4%) who received doxycycline monotherapy. The prevalence of RAMs to macrolides, fluoroquinolones, and tetracyclines at baseline were 24.3%, 22.4%, and 7.9%, respectively. Though PWH had more M. genitalium infection (10.2% vs 5.9%, p = 0.01), a higher rate of RAMs to macrolides (41.0% vs 14.7%, p < 0.01) was found in PWoH.
CONCLUSIONS
Among high-risk populations, the prevalence of M. genitalium infection was 8.1%. The overall genotypic resistance of M. genitalium to macrolides and fluoroquinolones was moderately high in Taiwan. Detection of M. genitalium infection and antimicrobial resistance is warranted to ensure resistance-guided antimicrobial treatments to be administered.
PubMed: 38777653
DOI: 10.1016/j.jmii.2024.05.004 -
Open Forum Infectious Diseases Aug 2023High levels of macrolide resistance and increasing fluoroquinolone resistance are making increasingly difficult to treat. Minocycline is an alternative treatment for...
BACKGROUND
High levels of macrolide resistance and increasing fluoroquinolone resistance are making increasingly difficult to treat. Minocycline is an alternative treatment for patients with macrolide-resistant infections that have failed moxifloxacin, or for those with fluoroquinolone contraindications or resistance. Published efficacy data for minocycline for are limited.
METHODS
We evaluated minocycline 100 mg twice daily for 14 days at Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC). Microbial cure was defined as a negative test of cure within 14-90 days after completing minocycline. The proportion cured and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated, and logistic regression was used to explore factors associated with treatment failure. We pooled data from the current study with a prior adjacent case series of patients with who had received minocycline 100 mg twice daily for 14 days at MSHC.
RESULTS
Minocycline cured 60 of 90 (67% [95% CI, 56%-76%]) infections. Adherence was high (96%) and side effects were mild and self-limiting. No demographic or clinical characteristics were associated with minocycline failure in regression analyses. In the pooled analyses of 123 patients, 83 (68% [95% CI, 58%-76%]) were cured following minocycline.
CONCLUSIONS
Minocycline cured 68% of macrolide-resistant infections. These data provide tighter precision around the efficacy of minocycline for macrolide-resistant and show that it is a well-tolerated regimen. With high levels of macrolide resistance, increasing fluoroquinolone resistance, and the high cost of moxifloxacin, access to nonquinolone options such as minocycline is increasingly important for the clinical management of .
PubMed: 37608915
DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofad427