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Characteristics
Morphology intracellular gram negative pleomorphic bacterium, 0.2 to 0.3 µm in diameter, produce colonies with a "fried eggs".
Disease

Immunocompromised patients and patients with agammaglobulinemia or who are receiving immunosuppressive drugs are particularly at risk. M. hominis does not usually persist in children after birth, but 17% of prepubescent girls are infected with this bacterium.
Zoonosis

None reported.
Health Hazards
Host Range Humans and non-human primates.
Modes of Transmission
Sexual contact and cervical and vaginal contact during birth.
Signs and Symptoms 

Neonatal infections, including conjunctivis, respiratory distress, fever, meningitis, abscesses, and congenital pneumonia, which occurs a few hours after birth. In adults, M. hominis may be implicated in pharyngitis, septicaemia, lung infections, central nervous system infections, other respiratory tract infections, joint infection, and wound infections.
Infectious Dose Unknown.
Incubation Period  Unknown.
Medical Precautions/Treatment
Prophylaxis
Clindamycin may be given early in pregnancy for infected women.
Vaccines
None available.
Treatment tetracycline, clindamycin, and quinolone
Surveillance
Monitor for symptoms. Diagnosis can be confirmed by microbial culture and PCR.
MSU Requirements
Report any exposures.
Laboratory Hazards
Laboratory Acquired Infections (LAIs)
None have been reported.
 Sources
Body fluid, swabs, and uro-genital tract tissues. Cultures, frozen stocks, other samples described in IBC protocol.
Supplemental References
BMBL
 https://www.cdc.gov/labs/bmbl/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/labs/BMBL.html
NIH Guidelines
https://osp.od.nih.gov/wp-content/uploads/NIH_Guidelines.pdf
CDC
 https://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment-guidelines/mycoplasmagenitalium.htm
Canada PSDS
 http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/lab-bio/res/psds-ftss/index-eng.php
Risk Group & Containment Requirements
Risk Group 2

Agents that are associated with human disease which is rarely serious and for which preventive or therapeutic interventions are often available.
BSL2
For all procedures involving suspected or known infectious specimen or cultures.
ABSL2
For all procedures utilizing infected animals infected.
Spill Procedures
Small
Notify others working in the lab. Remove PPE and don new PPE. Cover area of the spill with absorbent material and add fresh 1:10 bleach:water. Allow 20 munutes (or as directed) of contact time. After 20 minutes, cleanup and dispose of materials.
Large
  • Immediately notify all personnel in the lab and clear all personnel from the area. Remove any contaminated PPE/clothing and leave the lab. 
  • Secure the area by locking doors, posting signage and guarding the area to keep people out of the space. 
For assistance, contact MSU's Biosafety Officer (406-994-6733) or Safety and Risk Management (406-994-2711).
Exposure Procedures
Mucous membrane
Flush eyes, mouth, or nose for 5 minutes at eyewash station.
Other Exposures
Wash area with soap and water for 5 minutes.
Reporting
Immediately report incident to supervisor, complete a First Report of Injury form, and submit to Safety and Risk Management.
Medical Follow-up
During business hours: Bridger Occupational Health 3406 Laramie Drive. Weekdays 8am -6pm.  Weekends 9am-5pm
After business hours: Bozeman Deaconess Hospital Emergency Room 915 Highland Blvd Bozeman, MT
Viability
Disinfection
Phenolic disinfectants, 1% sodium hypochlorite, 70% ethanol, formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, iodophore, and peracedic acid
Inactivation
Inactivated by UV, microwave, gamma radiation, moist heat (15 minutes at 121oC) and dry heat (1 hour at 160-170oC).
Survival Outside Host
If protected from evaporation, M. hominis can survive for one hour in liquid specimens and have been found on toilet bowls.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Minimum PPE Requirements
Lab coat, disposable gloves, safety glasses, closed toed shoes, long pants
Additional Precautions
 Additioanl PPE may be required depending on lab specific SOPs and IBC Protocol.