Drug-resistantMycoplasma genitalium
What you need to know
Mycoplasma genitalium (M. genitalium) bacteria are sexually transmitted and can cause urethritis (inflammation of the urethra) in men and may cause cervicitis (inflammation of the cervix) in women. If left untreated, M. genitalium may also cause pelvic inflammatory disease in women, which can lead to chronic pelvic pain, ectopic pregnancy, and infertility.
What we know about resistance
M. genitalium develops resistance to antibiotics very easily, which has left very few effective antibiotics available for treatment.
What CDC is doing
CDC is collaborating with partners and healthcare providers, including sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinics and the National Institutes of Health, to identify cases of drug-resistant M. genitalium in the United States and understand which alternative treatments might cure this infection. CDC clinicians provide clinical consultations to healthcare providers caring for these hard-to-treat cases.