Sexual Health | Pathology | Diagnosing Mycoplasma Genitalium

Diagnosing Mycoplasma genitalium
Session Overview
Description
This session explains how to diagnose Mycoplasma genitalium (M. genitalium). It describes the epidemiology of M. genitalium and when and how to test for M. genitalium.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Recall the specific indications for M. genitalium testing
• List the optimal specimens for M. genitalium testing
• Identify the tests that are available and appropriate to detect M. genitalium
• State the importance of antimicrobial resistance with respect to M. genitalium

Prerequisites
Before commencing this session it would be useful to have looked at:

• Interpreting Laboratory Tests (260-0018)
• Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (260-0020)

M. genitalium (Fig 1) is the smallest known self-replicating bacterium and lacks a cell wall so cannot be detected by Gram staining of a specimen. It is predominantly found in the genitourinary tract of both sexes and has a specialised tip-like structure, which allows it to adhere to and invade epithelial cells.

M. genitalium may persist for months or years in asymptomatic individuals and most people infected will not develop disease. It is the causative organism in 15 to 25% of non-gonococcal urethritis in cis-gender men.

In cis-gender women it is associated with postcoital bleeding, cervicitis, endometritis and pelvic inflammatory disease. In those with pelvic inflammatory disease M. genitalium has been detected in 10 to 13% of genital specimens.