Mycoplasma hominis - Mycoplasma

Mycoplasma hominis is a microorganism that populates the genitourinary tract of some men and women, especially sexually active ones. Its presence in these locations can have both commensal significance (it does not create any suffering or disturbance) and pathological. In the latter case, Mycoplasma hominis is commonly implicated in the genesis of bacterial vaginosis and pelvic inflammatory disease, together with Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

As such, Mycoplasma hominis can cause infertility, miscarriage, endometritis, salpingitis, premature rupture of membranes, chorion-amniotic infections, and poor development of the newborn. In the male, on the other hand, it can cause infertility, urethritis, prostatitis and pyelonephritis. Since this microorganism is often isolated together with other infectious agents, its degree of pathogenicity is however uncertain. Favored by poor immune defenses, the Mycoplasma hominis it can also be the cause of various morbid forms in the extragenital area.

The percentages of colonization, both in the male and in the female sex, are correlated to sexual activity (different partners), but the transmission of the infection can also occur vertically from mother to child. The data present in the literature are discordant; on average, Mycoplasma hominis is found in about 20 - 50% of sexually active women and in slightly lower percentages in males.

The treatment used to eradicate Mycoplasma hominis infection uses antibiotics that interfere with protein synthesis, such as azithromycin and doxycycline.

Mycoplasma are the smallest cells capable of autonomous life, with a cosmopolitan distribution. Immovable, devoid of rigid cell walls and as such of extremely variable morphology (spherical, filamentous), human mycoplasmas include the genera Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma (mycoplasma capable of hydrolyzing urea). Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum are the most pathogenic species. frequently isolated from the genitourinary system.

Main human mycoplasmas of pathological interest Mycoplasma pneumoniae Etiological agent of primary atypical pneumonia, which mainly affects infants and children Mycoplasma hominis

Common commensal of the genitourinary system, associated with some pathologies of the genital system of the adult and of the respiratory tract of the newborn.

Mycoplasma genitalium Normal commensal of the genitourinary system which, similarly to Mycoplasma hominis, can assume pathogenic characteristics. Ureaplasma urealyticum It can cause non-gonococcal and non-chlamydial urethritis; it is associated with spontaneous abortion, premature birth and stillbirths; can cause meningitis in the newborn.