Antibiotics Resistance of Urogenital Mycoplasma in Sexually Active Women Attending Gynecologic Consultation in Douala (Cameroon)

Abstract

Introduction: Mycoplasmas are bacteria commonly found in the commensal flora of humans and can occasionally be pathogenic. The population and the geographical area determine their susceptibility to various antibiotics. Methodology: We carried out a cross-sectional study from January to June 2022 at the Douala General Hospital. All women who were sexually active and willing to participate were included. Endo-cervical swabbing was used to collect the samples. Culture and antibiotic susceptibility testing were performed in a liquid medium using Mycoplasma-SystemPlus Gallery (Liofilchem). All samples that degraded urea (threshold > 103 for Ureaplasma urealyticum) and arginine (threshold > 104 for Mycoplasma hominis) were deemed positive. Results: A total of 107 women with a median age of 33 ± 8.3 years and a predominance of 30-40 years (41.1%) were included. The frequency of mycoplasma infection was 73.8% with 34.1%, 11.4% and 54.4% for Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis and co-infection respectively. Resistance rates to Minocycline were low, 1.3% for Ureaplasma urealyticum and 3.7% for co-infection; for Pefloxacin the resistance rates were 3.7% (Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis) and 22.8% (co-infection). Ureaplasma urealyticum had a resistance rate of 3.7% for Erythromycin, 1.3% for Clarithromycin and 5% for Azithromycin. There was no significant correlation between risk factors and infection. Vaginal cleansing and the development of resistance in mycoplasma infection were found to be significantly correlated (OR = 6.915 [1.52 - 31.55]; (p = 0.013)). Conclusion: Minocycline was the most active antibiotic and Ureaplasma urealyticum was the species with the lowest rate of resistance. Antibiotic resistance was more common in co-infected people than mono-infected. Antibiotic resistance was independently correlated with vaginal douching.