Korean J Urol.  2011 Oct;52(10):703-708. 10.4111/kju.2011.52.10.703.

The Prevalence and Clinical Significance of Urethritis and Cervicitis in Asymptomatic People by Use of Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction

• Kim SJ
• Lee DS
• Lee SJ

• KMID: 2061434
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4111/kju.2011.52.10.703

Abstract

PURPOSE
Our purpose was to conduct a screening test for urethritis or cervicitis as a sexually transmitted disease (STD) by using multiplex polymerase chain reaction(PCR) and to determine the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma genitalium, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis, and Trichomonas vaginalis in asymptomatic people.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
From July 2010 to December 2010, 709 persons who came to the hospital for a general checkup were tested. Multiplex PCR assays were done with first voided urine samples or endocervical swabs by use of the Seeplex(R) STD6 ACE Detection kit.
RESULTS
The mean age in this study was 45.4+/-8.1 years. Among the 709 persons, 229 (32.3%) had a positive result for at least one microorganism, 48 (6.8%) had two different species, 6 (0.8%) had three different species, and 1 person had four different species. The overall prevalence of asymptomatic STDs such as urethritis or cervicitis was 7.1% (50/709). The prevalence rates of chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma genitalium, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis, and Trichomonas vaginalis infection in asymptomatic persons were 5.6% (40/709), 0.4% (3/709), 0.3% (2/709), 22.1% (157/709), 11.6% (82/709), and 1.1% (8/709), respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
With only a single sample, we could identify the prevalence rates of six microorganisms and the overall proportion of urethritis or cervicitis in asymptomatic people. This proportion cannot be neglected; therefore, screening tests for sexually transmitted diseases such as urethritis or ervicitis should be recommended to asymptomatic people.

Keyword

Chlamydia; Mycoplasma; Polymerase chain reaction; Sexually transmitted diseases; Ureaplasma

MeSH Terms

Chlamydia
Chlamydia trachomatis
Humans
Mass Screening
Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction
Mycoplasma
Mycoplasma genitalium
Mycoplasma hominis
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Porphyrins
Prevalence
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Trichomonas vaginalis
Ureaplasma
Ureaplasma urealyticum
Urethritis
Uterine Cervicitis
Porphyrins

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