Prevalence of Genital Mycoplasmas Inthe Vaginal Tracts of Adolescents in Nnewi, South-Eastern, Nigeria

This study aims to screen adolescent girls in Nnewi, South-Eastern Nigeria for the presence of
potential pathogens like genital mycoplasmas and also to know the associated risk factors predisposing them
to these organisms. A cross-sectional study involving the use of high vaginal swabs (HVS) from 100 adolescent
girls aged between 13 and 18 years was done. Molecular method was used to analyse the swabs using the
polymerase chain reaction technique. Questionnaires were also used to obtain the bio data and evaluate the
risk factors to these vaginal organisms. A prevalence rate was was 20% out of which 4% represented
concomitant colonization by 2 or more different species. A breakdown of the organisms showed that the
Ureaplasma species-Ureaplasma urealyticum and Ureaplasma parvum had 6% and 4% colonization rates
respectively while the Mycoplasma species-Mycoplasma hominis and Mycoplasma genitalium had 4% and
6% rates respectively. Poor personal hygiene and sharing of personal effects were found to be risk factors in
predisposing subjects to M. hominis acquisition. The high prevalence of these organisms among asymptomatic
adolescents suggests strongly that they are not always associated with symptoms thus supporti