High burden of Mycoplasma genitalium and other reproductive tract infections among pregnant women in Papua New Guinea

Abstract

There is a pressing need for detailed knowledge of the range of pathogens, extent of co-infection and clinical impact of reproductive tract infections (RTIs) among pregnant women. Here, we report on RTIs (Mycoplasma genitalium, Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Trichomonas vaginalis, Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum, bacterial vaginosis and vulvovaginal candidiasis) and other sexual and reproductive health indicators among 699 pregnant women in Papua New Guinea (PNG). We found widespread M. genitalium infection (12.5% of women), the first time this pathogen has been reported in PNG, with no evidence of macrolide resistance. Most pregnant women (76.2%) had at least one RTI, most of which are treatable. Excluding syphilis, sexually-transmitted infections were detected in 37.8% women. Syndromic management of infections is greatly inadequate and there was remarkably little use of contraception; 98.4% report never having used barrier contraception. This work has implications for improving maternal and child health in PNG. ARTICLE SUMMARY LINEThis first report of Mycoplasma genitalium in Papua New Guinea finds a high burden (12.5%) among 699 pregnant women. Additionally, more than one in two women were positive for a treatable reproductive tract infection associated with poor health outcomes.