Mycoplasma genitalium Infection Is Not Associated With Genital Tract Inflammation Among Adolescent and Young Adult Women in Baltimore, Maryland

BACKGROUND: Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) is a prevalent sexually transmitted infection, but little is known about the associated inflammatory signatures in the genital tract of adolescents and young adult (AYA) women. METHODS: AYA women age 13 to 24 were recruited. Demographic information, sexual behavior history, and medical history were collected. Vaginal swab samples were tested for MG, Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), Trichomonas vaginalis (TV), bacterial vaginosis (BV), and measurement of 13 cytokines, chemokines, and antimicrobial proteins. Vaginal cytokine concentrations were compared by MG infection status. The strength of associations between multiple factors and MG infection was evaluated. RESULTS: Of 215 participants, 16.7% [95% confidence interval (CI): 12.0%, 22.4%) had MG infection. Inflammation was not associated with MG infection (P> 0.05). MG infection was associated with CT infection (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPrR]= 3.02, 95% CI: 1.69, 5.39); bisexual behavior in the past 3 months (aPrR = 2.07, 95% CI: 1.18, 3.64); genitourinary symptoms (aPrR = 2.06, 95% CI: 1.22, 3.49); and self-reported Black race (aPrR = 3.53, 95% CI: 1.11, 11.18). CONCLUSIONS: Higher levels of genital tract cytokines were not associated with MG infection. CT infection, bisexual behavior, self-reported Black race, and genitourinary symptoms were associated with an increased likelihood of MG infection.