Table 4.
Association Between Concentrations of Potential Pathogens and Nongonococcal Urethritis Among 431 MSM and MSW With qPCR Data
| Any NGU | Idiopathic NGUa | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No NGU | NGU | P b | No NGU | Idiopathic NGU | P b | |
| MSM,c N | 70 | 129 | 67 | 55 | ||
| Mycoplasma penetrans | ||||||
| Detected, n (%) | 1 (1) | 17 (13) | .004* | 1 (1) | 14 (25) | <.001* |
| Log10 concentration, median (IQR),d copies/mL | 1.25 (1.25-1.25) | 4.20 (3.64–4.53) | .101 | 1.25 (1.25-1.25) | 4.25 (3.65–4.53) | .105 |
| Haemophilus influenzae | ||||||
| Detected, n (%) | 2 (3) | 15 (12) | .036* | 2 (3) | 11 (20) | .003* |
| Log10 concentration, median (IQR),d copies/mL | 0.65 (0.40–0.91) | 3.67 (2.77–4.18) | .025* | 0.65 (0.40–0.91) | 3.89 (3.10–4.49) | .030* |
| Ureaplasma urealyticum | ||||||
| Detected, n (%) | 11 (16) | 28 (22) | .354 | 11 (16) | 13 (24) | .365 |
| Log10 concentration, median (IQR),d copies/mL | 2.45 (1.36–2.97) | 3.02 (2.35–4.13) | .105 | 2.45 (1.36–2.97) | 3.05 (2.12–4.16) | .235 |
| MSW,e N | 112 | 120 | 104 | 58 | ||
| Mycoplasma penetrans | ||||||
| Detected, n (%) | 1 (1) | 4 (3) | .371 | 1 (1) | 3 (5) | .131 |
| Log10 concentration, median (IQR),d copies/mL | 0.62 (0.62-0.62) | 1.46 (1.20–2.30) | .157 | 0.62 (0.62-0.62) | 1.34 (1.06–1.57) | .180 |
| Haemophilus influenzae | ||||||
| Detected, n (%) | 1 (1) | 20 (17) | <.001* | 1 (1) | 19 (33) | <.001* |
| Log10 concentration, median (IQR),d copies/mL | 0.62 (0.62-0.62) | 3.06 (2.22–3.92) | .099 | 0.62 (0.62-0.62) | 3.16 (2.15–3.95) | .100 |
| Ureaplasma urealyticum | ||||||
| Detected, n (%) | 28 (25) | 28 (23) | .878 | 26 (25) | 15 (26) | 1.000 |
| Log10 concentration, median (IQR),d copies/mL | 3.23 (2.37–4.00) | 3.19 (2.00–4.10) | .731 | 3.10 (2.37–3.96) | 3.84 (2.05–4.20) | .607 |
n = 8 missing herpes simplex virus and adenovirus test results.
Abbreviations: IQR, interquartile range; MSM, men who have sex with men only; MSW, men who have sex with women only; NGU, nongonococcal urethritis; qPCR, quantitative polymerase chain reaction.
aRestricted to participants who tested negative or had missing data for Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium by nucleic acid amplification test and for adenovirus, herpes simplex virus, and Trichomonas vaginalis by qPCR.
bFisher’s exact test (binary variables), Wilcoxon rank-sum test (continuous variables). *Significance at the ɑ = 0.05 level.
cn = 3 missing Mycoplasma penetrans, Haemophilus influenzae, Ureaplasma urealyticum, and Trichomonas vaginalis test results. n = 10 missing herpes simplex virus and adenovirus test results.
dAmong participants with the bacterium detected.
eIncludes 2 transgender women who have sex with men only.