Mycoplasma hominis bacteria cause this infection on the genital tract of men and women. Often sexually active men/women develop this infection and hence considered as type of sexually transmitted diseases. Sometimes MH infection can cause complications like pelvic inflammatory disorder and post partum fever. In severe cases this infection may lead to meningitis and pneumonia. M hominis infection is the leading cause of vaginal infection in women. In some cases it can even infect the upper genital tract and endometrium. Mycoplasma hominis infection is closely related to pregnancy problems like post abartum fever and chorioamnionitis. Similarly M hominis can cause complications like septic arthritis, peritonitis, hematoma, septicemia infection and even vascular related problems.
Symptoms :
Mycoplasma hominis infection may not produce any symptoms in many cases. However in some cases it can cause burning pain while urinating, vaginal discharge between periods, and pain during intercourse. M Hominis infection is known to be the cause for many diseases like cystitis, chorioamnionitis, bactermia infection, pelvic inflammatory disorder, surgical wound infections, septic arthritis, meningitis and pneumonia. Pregnant women are likely to pass on the infection to the neonates causing various complications like bacteremia, lung disease and much more.
Causes :
As stated earlier, M hominis bacteria is the root cause of infection.
Diagnosis :
Based on the symptoms your doctor would order for urine culture to detect M hominis and other bacteria. NAAT test can also be done.
Treatment :
Mycoplasma hominis has multiple layered cell walls and hence not destroyed by common antibiotics. Normally penicillin and other effective antibiotics could penetrate the cell wall of the bacterium and destroy it. However it is difficult to kill M hominis. Hence your doctor would prescribe powerful antibiotics and tetracyclines or quinolones to treat this infection. Oral tetracycline is highly effective in managing the symptoms caused by M hominis. Some patients who are resistant to tetracycline fluoroquinolone can be given. Clindamycin is also used for treating mycoplasmic hominis infection.
For patients with weakened immunity combination of antibiotics is recommended. For women who have developed inflammation of urethra or cervicitis due to hominis infection, Azithromycin is prescribed for a week or 10 days along with doxycycline. Those infected with M genitalium moxifloxacin is given. And for women with PID combination of antibiotics are prescribed. For those affected with post partum fever doxycyline or fluoroquinolone is effective. Newborns infected with M hominis are difficult to be treated. For them parenteral tetracycline is given for two weeks or more depending on the intensity of symptoms. Course of therapy differs from one individual to the other and it largely depends on the intensity of infection. So far vaccines are not there for preventing m.hominis.
Prevention Tips :
- Practice safe sex by using condoms.
- Seek immediate medical care if you have symptoms of vaginal infection.
- If you suspect your partner has sexual infection avoid having sex.
- Completely refrain from all sexual activities until the infection is treated. You should not indulge in sex even while taking antibiotics for sexually transmitted disease.