ASSOCIATION OF MYCOPLASMA-PENETRANS WITH HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUSINFECTION

A cross-sectional study was done to determine the seroprevalence of My coplasma penetrans in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1-seropo sitive and -seronegative persons recruited in France. The data were an alyzed with respect to the sociodemographic, clinical, and biologic st atus of the patients. M. penetrans seropositivity was associated with HIV infection (18.2% of HIV-seropositive vs, 1.3% of HIV-seronegative persons were M. penetrans-seropositive; P <.001). M. penetrans infecti on was predominantly but not exclusively associated with homosexual pr actices in HIV-seropositive subjects and thus presumably sexually tran smitted. M. penetrans seroprevalence increased with progression of HIV -associated disease. No association was found between M. penetrans and Kaposi's sarcoma. Thus, there is an unambiguous association between M . penetrans and HIV, particularly among homosexual persons, but its cl inical significance remains to be investigated.