1. Gonococcal bacterial load in PrEP users with Mycoplasma genitalium coinfection
- Author
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Van Dijck, Christophe, De Baetselier, Irith, Cuylaerts, Vicky, Buyze, Jozefien, Laumen, Jolein, Vuylsteke, Bea, and Kenyon, Chris
- Abstract
Objectives Gonococcal infections with a higher bacterial load may pose a higher risk of transmission. We assessed the association between gonococcal bacterial load and coinfection with Mycoplasma genitalium.Methods From September 2015 until May 2018, 200 men and transgender women who have sex with men participated in an HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) demonstration trial in Antwerp, Belgium. They underwent 3-monthly 3-site (anus, urine, and pharynx) molecular testing for N. gonorrhoeae and C. trachomatisand M. genitalium, irrespective of symptoms. Gonococcal bacterial load was determined on remnant DNA extracts using an in-house quantitative PCR. Results were expressed as log10transformed copies/mL and analyzed with a linear regression model.Results Gonococcal bacterial load could be determined for 82 (80.4%) of 102 anal, 17 (73.9%) of 23 urine, and 64 (90.1%) of 71 pharyngeal samples. M. genitaliumwas detected in five of these anal, two urine, and two pharyngeal samples and C. trachomatiswas detected in 16 anal, one urine, and two pharyngeal samples. Gonococcal bacterial load was significantly higher in the presence of M. genitalium(difference 0.92 log copies/mL, 95% CI 0.16–1.67).Conclusions Gonococcal bacterial load was higher with M. genitaliumcoinfection. M. genitaliummay thus be a cofactor in gonococcal transmission.
- Published
- 2022
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