Abnormal Vaginal pH and Mycoplasma genitalium Infection

Abstract Study Objective Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) is a sexually transmitted pathogen linked to female morbidity, but testing for MG is not standardized. We aimed to determine which point-of-care (POC) vaginal tests could predict MG infection. Design, Setting, Participants A cross sectional study r...

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Veröffentlicht in:Journal of pediatric & adolescent gynecology 2013-02, Vol.26 (1), p.36-39
Hauptverfasser: Huppert, Jill S., MD, MPH, Bates, Justin R., MA, Weber, Akilah F., MD, Quinn, Nicole, BS, Gaydos, Charlotte A., MS, MPH, DrPH
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Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung:Abstract Study Objective Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) is a sexually transmitted pathogen linked to female morbidity, but testing for MG is not standardized. We aimed to determine which point-of-care (POC) vaginal tests could predict MG infection. Design, Setting, Participants A cross sectional study recruited sexually active adolescent women, aged 14-22 y (n = 217) from an urban medical center. Interventions and Main Outcome Measures Vaginal swabs were POC tested for pH, amines, clue cells, sialidase, and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV). MG was detected by research-use-only transcription mediated amplification (TMA) assay. Presence of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) were confirmed using TMA. Three criteria were required for diagnosis of clinical BV: pH > 4.5, presence of amines, and >20% clue cells. Associations were assessed using logistic regression (LR). Results TMA detected MG in 30 (14%), CT in 49 (23%), and NG in 21 (10%) of the samples tested. POC vaginal tests were positive for TV in 21%, amines in 52%, clue cells in 33%, sialidase in 22%, pH > 4.5 in 56%, and clinical BV in 19% of the samples tested. Using LR, pH > 4.5 was a predictor of MG (odds ratio 4.4, P   4.5 had MG, compared to 9% of those with pH ≤ 4.5 ( P  = .02). Conclusions Until standardized, approved testing for MG is available, pH may be a useful indicator to suspect MG, especially in the absence of BV and TV.
ISSN:1083-3188
1873-4332
DOI:10.1016/j.jpag.2012.09.005