Comparison of the Urinary Microbiome in Men who have Sex with Men with and without Chlamydia trachomatis Infection

Chlamydia trachomatis is among the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) worldwide, constituting a major public health problem. The incidence and prevalence of this infection are widespread, particularly in resource-poor countries due to the lack of access to health care facilities and ineffective diagnostic methods. In the African region, chlamydia have been reported to account for 12 million new cases per year. This Infection significantly increases the risk of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) transmission, particularly in men who have sex with men (MSM). Most MSM are asymptomatic, engaging in high-risk sexual behaviours, and have become an understudied group at greater risk for STI infections globally. Microbiome variation has been found to be substantially affected by sexual practice. The bacterial composition of the male urinary microbiome is reported to influence the risk for the development of sexually transmitted infections. However, little is known about the urinary microbiome of MSM. This study aimed to assess the bacterial composition of the urinary microbiome in a population of South African MSM.