Increased frequency of detection of Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma genitalium in AIDS patients without urethral symptoms

The roles of Mycoplasma genitalium and Ureaplasma urealyticum in nongonococcal urethritis are not yet well established. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of these microorganisms in the urethral tracts of 187 human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected male patients with no clinical signs of urethritis. The results indicate that the prevalence of M. genitalium and U. urealyticum was higher in AIDS patients than in asymptomatic, HIV-1-infected patients and in healthy individuals. The high rate of mycoplasmas and ureaplasmas detected in AIDS patients, in the absence of urethritis, argues against major roles in causing disease at the urethral mucosal level for these microorganisms.