According to an article published in the March 13th edition of AIDS, African women infected with a common sexually transmitted bacterial infection called Mycoplasma genitalium are twice as likely to acquire an HIV infection. Mycoplasma genitalium is a parasitic bacterial infection and was first identified in 1980; this condition produces inflammation of the reproductive tract and genitals. This bacterium is known to cause or exacerbate conditions like Uriethritis, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, and Cervicitis; but it is important to note that many people go for many years without any signs or symptoms. Thankfully, this bacterial parasite is easily treated with a course of antibiotics.
In the study, researchers found that in initial blood samples when all women were HIV free, approximately 15% of the women who later developed HIV were infected with Mycoplasma genitalium, compared to the 6.5% who never developed the disease. Another interesting find is that M. Genitalium was shown to be more prevalent than even Gonorrhea and Chlamydia. According to researchers, M. Genitalium was responsible for approximately 9% of all HIV infections throughout the study but other factors showed even more risk. For example, someone with Herpes simplex virus type 2 (genital herpes) has an even higher likelihood of contracting HIV than even someone exposed to M. Genitalium.
Source: http://www.labbocaraton.com/std-testing/hiv-testing.html
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