infectious diseases
Chlamydia and Mycoplasmal Mucosal Infections
Introduction
Sexually transmitted urethritis, cervicitis, proctitis, and pharyngitis (that are not due to gonorrhea) are caused predominantly by chlamydiae and less frequently by mycoplasmas. Chlamydiae may also cause salpingitis, epididymitis, perihepatitis, neonatal conjunctivitis, and infant pneumonia. Untreated chlamydial salpingitis can become chronic, causing minimal symptoms but having serious consequences. Diagnosis is by culture, immunoassay for antigens, or nucleic acid–based tests. Treatment is usually withdoxycyclineorazithromycin. (See also Overview of Sexually Transmitted Infections .) Several organisms can cause nongonococcal sexually transmitted cervicitis in women and urethritis, proctitis, and pharyngitis in both sexes. These organisms include (causes Lymphogranuloma Venereum (LGV) [rare], about 50% of nongonococcal urethritis cases, and most cases of mucopurulent Mycoplasma genitaliumandM. hominis(which causes urogenital infections in women but not men) ( Trichomoniasis ) The imprecise term "nonspecific urethritis” can be used, but only if tests for chlamydiae and gonococci are negative and no other pathogen is identified. Chlamydia and 