Mycoplasma hominis: treat or not treat?

In inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system, both in men and women, the mycoplasma hominis bacteria is often found. This microorganism, along with ureaplasma, refers to opportunistic bacteria that are normally present in the microflora of the urethra and the vagina. Infectious process, they cause only when their concentration becomes too high. Nevertheless, to date, the mycoplasma hominis is found in 30-68% of cases with inflammatory processes in the genitourinary system in women and in 20-42% of cases - in men.

Infection is transmitted with unprotected sex. In most cases mycoplasma hominis does not manifest itself for a long time after infection. Getting into the body, the bacterium can long parasitize inside the cell, causing a slow inflammatory process. It is known that women are much more likely to be carriers of this microorganism, whereas men can have vivid clinical manifestations.

When mycoplasma hominis becomes dangerous?

The bacterium can actively multiply and cause the development of the infectious process with a decrease in the body's defenses. The amount of mycoplasmas can thus increase to 10,000 in 1 ml or more. In this case, in men mycoplasma hominis can promote the development of epidemitis, prostatitis, urethritis, and in some cases - even impotence. Clinical manifestations of infection in women can be endometritis, adnexitis, vulvovaginitis, bartholinitis, urethritis. Often mycoplasma hominis becomes the culprit of inflammatory processes in women in menopausal age. Often a bacterium is the cause of female infertility.

In addition, with the addition of other microorganisms (bacteria and viruses), especially pathogenic ones, mycoplasma hominis becomes extremely dangerous. After all, these bacteria can attach not only to cells of mucous membranes, but also to cells of other microorganisms, for example, gonococci. Such an association of microorganisms for the human immune system is more dangerous, since the inflammatory process in this case is spreading more quickly, and the disease often turns into a chronic form.

And, of course, mycoplasma hominis becomes pregnant when pregnant. In this case, there is a risk of infection with the mycoplasmas of the child, and, in addition, there is a threat of premature termination of pregnancy.

Diagnosis and treatment of the disease

Currently, the PCR method is used to detect mycoplasmas. Determination of antibodies to bacteria by ELISA is considered less informative. In the event that a bacterium is detected, the excretory urinary tract is sown to nutrient media to determine the growth rate of the microorganisms. In addition, it is necessary to determine to what antibiotic sensitive mycoplasma hominis. Treatment, as a rule, conducts macrolides, and also antibacterial preparations of a tetracycline series and fluoroquinolones. Be sure to supplement the treatment regimen with immunomodulating agents, vitamins and preparations for the restoration of intestinal microflora. The course of treatment is usually 10-14 days. To avoid re-infection with mycoplasma, both partners should be treated.

With competent treatment and elimination of re-infection, one or two courses of therapy are usually allowed to cope with the disease. It should be remembered that self-medication in case of detection of mycoplasma can not. It is only the doctor who can correctly assess the situation and decide whether treatment is required. In addition, when detecting mycoplasma, hominis should be examined for other sexual infections. In case the inflammation is caused by several microorganisms, the doctor will necessarily select the appropriate therapy regimen.