[Mycoplasma genitalium--a new challenge in sexually transmitted diseases]

Although Mycoplasma genitalium was described 20 years ago, the knowledge concerning it is still limited. The publications in the area are surprisingly few in number, especially considering that the pathogen is rather common and has been connected with a number of different urogenital diseases. The PCR technique has made it possible to perform investigations on a large scale, which might elucidate the pathogenic role of M. genitalium in the urogenital tract. However, it seems well established that M. genitalium causes non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU). The mycoplasma behaves almost identically to Chlamydia trachomatis with respect to routes of infection and inflammatory response, but no further relationship between the two organisms seems obvious. M. genitalium is believed to produce urethritis with almost the same frequency as C. trachomatis. In the female genital tract, M. genitalium is strongly incriminated as a primary cause of cervicitis, endometritis and salpingitis, the latter complicated by tubal damage. The role of the organisms in epididymitis, prostatitis and neonatal infections is unclear. In the case of urethritis and upper genital tract infections in the female, it is recommended to test for M. genitalium using molecular biological assays and in the event of a positive result institute antimicrobial therapy.