Prevalence and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Mycoplasma Infections among Sexually Active Patients Attending the Regional Hospital Annex of Dschang, Cameroon

Abstract

Background: Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) and Mycoplasma hominis (MH) are the principal Mycoplasma bacteria species responsible for male non-gonococcal urethritis, female cervical infections, and spontaneous abortion, among other conditions. Mycoplasma can also cause extra-urogenital infections like meningitis in adults and infective endocarditis; therefore, they are considered to pose a threat to community health. Aim: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Mycoplasma infections and their susceptibility profiles to antibiotics among sexually active patients attending the Regional Hospital Annex of Dschang, Cameroon, presenting symptoms of sexually transmitted infections. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study involving 160 sexually active male and female participants was conducted between the period of March and July 2024 at the Regional Hospital Annex of Dschang, Cameroon. Questionnaires were administered to each consenting participant to collect sociodemographic information, clinical signs and predisposing factors to Mycoplasma infections. Urethral and endocervical specimens were collected by swabbing. Culture and antibiotic susceptibility testing were performed using the Mycoplasma-System Plus Gallery (Liofilchem). Collected data were entered and analysed on Microsoft Office Excel 2013 and EPI-INFO 7.2.1.  A P-value <5% was considered significant. Results: The mean age of the participants was 30.50±8.723 years. An overall prevalence of 68.75% (110/160), with a high frequency of Ureaplasma urealyticum (41.25%) against 13.13% for Mycoplasma hominis and 14.38% for co-infection with both Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis, was obtained.  In this study, women were more infected (69.84%) than men (61.76%) and participants of the age group [26-30] were highly associated with mycoplasma infection (OR:52; P: 0.13). U. urealyticum, M. hominis and co-infection of both showed good sensitivities to Pefloxacin at 78.79%, 80.95% and 56.52% respectively. However, U. urealyticum/M. hominis co-infection was highly resistant to Erythromycin (76.19%). Conclusion: Mycoplasma infection is high among sexually active patients presenting symptoms of sexually transmitted infections. Mycoplasma species were highly susceptible to Pefloxacin and highly resistant to Erythromycin.