Acta dermato-venereologicaJournal Article
05 May 2025
Mycoplasma penetrans has gained attention in relation to non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU), a syndrome where a significant proportion of patients have no identified aetiological agent. In this study, we estimated the prevalence of urethral and rectal M.
penetrans in a male population attending a sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinic in Copenhagen, Denmark. Specimens were assessed using M. penetrans-specific real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Demographic characteristics and clinical symptoms were extracted from patient records.
A total of 704 urethral specimens and 223 rectal specimens from 721 individual male patients were included. The prevalence of urethral and rectal M. penetrans was 0. 3% and 2. 7%, respectively. Overall, the prevalence among men who have sex with men (MSM) was 3.
6%, significantly higher than in men who have sex with women (p < 0. 001). Among MSM, a higher number of partners was associated with M. penetrans infection (p = 0. 008). No association was found between the presence of M.
penetrans and clinical symptom status, and its pathogenic potential remains unclear.
JSJ reports grants, personal fees, and non-financial support from Hologic, grants and personal fees from Nabriva, personal fees from Leo Pharma, all outside the submitted work. KS-R reports financial support from Hologic outside the submitted work. The remaining authors declare no potential conflicts of interest.
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