Reproductive Health and Wellness
Genital mycoplasmas in women attending the Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital in Cameroon
Genital mycoplasmas are implicated in pelvic
inflammatory diseases, puerperal infection, septic
abortions, low birth weight, nongonococcal
urethritis and prostatitis as well as spontaneous
abortion and infertility in women. There is pau -
city of data on colonisation of genital mycoplasma
in women and their drug sensitivity patterns.
The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence
of genital mycoplasmas (Ureaplasma urealiticumand
Mycoplasma hominis) infection and
their drug sensitivity patterns in women. A mycofast
kit was used for biochemical determination
of mycoplasma infection in 100 randomly selected
female patients aged 19-57 years, attending
the University of Yaoundé Teaching Hospital
(UYTH) from March to June 2010. Informed consent
was sought and gained before samples were
collected. Genital mycoplasmas were found in 65
patients (65%) [95% CI=55.7-74.3%] and distributed
as 41 (41%) [95% CI=31.4-50.6%] for U.
urealiticum and 4 (4%) [95% CI=0.20-7.8%] for
M. hominis while there was co-infection in 20
women (20%) [95% CI=12.16-27.84%]. In our
study, 57 (57%) [95% CI=47.3-67%] had other
organisms, which included C. albicans (19
[19%]), G. vaginalis (35 [35%]) and T. vaginalis
(3 [3%]). Among the 65 women with genital
mycoplasma, the highest co-infection was with
G. vaginalis (33.8%). Pristinamycine was the
most effective antibiotic (92%) and sulfamethoxazole
the most resistant (8%) antibiotic to genital
mycoplasmas. We conclude that genital
mycoplasma is a problem in Cameroon and
infected women should be treated together with
their partners.
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