Association of sexually transmitted infections and human papillomavirus co-infection with abnormal cervical cytology among women in Saudi Arabia

Prevalence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum among outpatients in central China: A retrospective study

Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) are the common sexually transmitted pathogens and lead to genital diseases, highly prevalent all around the world. The objective of this study was to analyze the prevalence of NG, CT and UU among outpatients in central China. A total of 2186 urogenital swabs were collected from the patients and the NG, CT and UU pathogens were testing with RT-PCR method, meanwhile the medical records were obtained from the hospital information system. The overall infection rates of NG, CT and UU were 4.57 %, 6.63 % and 48.81 % respectively, showed the prevalence of UU was higher than NG and CT. The younger people had the highest infection rate of NG (10.81 %), CT (20.54 %) and UU (54.59 %). Single infection (89.09 %) was significant higher than co-infection (10.91 %), and the CT-UU co-infection was the prominent pattern (66.41 %). There were an obvious sex difference, the prevalence of NG and CT were significant higher in male, whereas UU was higher in female. Our study could contributed a better understanding of the prevalence of NG, CT and UU, facilitating to the development of effective screening, prevention and treatment policies.

Co-infection with human papillomavirus and sexually transmitted infections among Chinese individuals

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and their co-infections on different genders and ages.

METHODS

Different samples of secretions from the reproductive system were collected from 459 males and 494 females for HPV and STI detection.

RESULTS

Total HPV infection rate was 49.46 % for males and 48.99 % for females, and the distribution of HPV subtypes varied significantly between different genders. The infection rate of HR-HPV 52 and 31 in females was higher than that in males (p = 0.002 and 0.039, respectively). In contrast, the infection rate of LR-HPV 6 and 11 in males was higher than that in females (p = 0.01 and 0.001, respectively). Females had a significantly higher infection rate of Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU). Besides, these STIs were stratified based on age and the results indicated that the highest incidence of STIs was observed in younger patients (<20 years old). Patients with HPV infections had a higher incidence of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) in both males and females.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a need to perform HPV, CT and UU screening among patients, and more thorough health education for younger patients is of great clinical significance to improve treatment and prognosis.

Trichomonas vaginalis infection and risk of cervical neoplasia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

The evidence in the literature regarding the relationship between Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) infection and cervical neoplasia is conflicting. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the magnitude of the risk of cervical neoplasia associated with TV infection.

METHODS

A meta-analysis of observational studies, which provided raw data on the association of TV infection with cervical neoplasia, was performed. For this aim, we searched scientific databases (PubMed/Medline, Scopus, the Web of Sciences, and Embase) from inception to March 15, 2023. A random-effects model was applied by Stata 17.0 to calculate the pooled and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), including subgroup, sensitivity, and cumulative analyses to explore sources of heterogeneity.

RESULTS

Of the 2584 records initially identified, 35 eligible studies contributed data for 67,856 women with cervical neoplasia, and 933,697 healthy controls from 14 countries were included. The pooled (2.15; 1.61-2.87; I2 = 87.7%) and adjusted (2.17; 1.82-2.60; I2 = 31.27%) ORs indicated a significant positive association between TV infection and the development of cervical neoplasia. There was no significant change in pooled and adjusted ORs by applying sensitivity and cumulative analyses, indicating the robustness of our findings. The pooled OR was significant in most sub-group analyses. There was no publication bias in the included studies.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicated that women with a TV infection are at significantly greater risk of cervical neoplasia. Future research, particularly longitudinal and experimental studies, should be done to better understand the various aspects of this association.

Influence of sexually transmitted infections on the cervical cytological abnormalities among Iranian women: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are one of the world's most severe health challenges. The existence of STIs such as human papillomavirus (HPV) might cause cervical cell changes leading to cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to assess the association of STIs with cervical cytological abnormalities and genital warts among women in northeastern Iran.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study was carried out on 190 women referred to the central laboratory of Academic Center for Education, Culture, and Research, Mashhad, Iran from March to July 2022. The presence of genital infections caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma genitalium, and Herpes simplex viruses (1 and 2) were assessed using the real-time polymerase chain reaction method. HPV genital infection was detected based on the principles of reverse hybridization, and cellular changes in the cervix were examined by the liquid-based cytology technique.

RESULTS

The mean age of participants was 35.33 ± 8.9 yr. 34 different HPV genotypes were detected in all HPV-positive cases, and the most common genotype was low-risk HPV6. No significant association was found between STIs and cervical cytology abnormalities. The prevalence rates of sexually transmitted pathogens among HPV-positive and HPV-negative individuals were 10.9 and 1.6%, respectively. The frequency of genital warts was significantly higher in cases with multiple infections of high- and low-risk HPV genotypes.

CONCLUSION

High percentages of the participants with non-HPV STIs and HPV infection had normal cervical cytology. It is advised to use STIs and HPV diagnostic tests along with cytology examinations for cervical cancer screening.

Association between human papillomavirus infection and common sexually transmitted infections, and the clinical significance of different Mycoplasma subtypes

Introduction

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, especially persistent high-risk HPV, is associated with cervical cancer. Female reproductive tract microecological disorders and lower genital tract infections have been increasingly correlated with HPV infection and cervical lesions. Due to their common risk factors and transmission routes, coinfection with other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) has become a concern. Additionally, the clinical significance of Mycoplasma subtypes appear to vary. This study aimed to assess the correlations between common STIs and HPV infection, and to investigate the clinical significance of Mycoplasma subtypes.

Methods

We recruited 1,175 patients undergoing cervical cancer screening at the Peking University First Hospital gynecological clinic from March 2021 to February 2022 for vaginitis and cervicitis tests. They all received HPV genotyping and detection of STIs, and 749 of them underwent colposcopy and cervical biopsy.

Results

Aerobic vaginitis/desquamative inflammatory vaginitis and STIs (mainly single STIs) were found significantly more often in the HPV-positive group than in the HPV-negative group. Among patients with a single STI, rates of infection with herpes simplex virus type 2 or UP6 in the HPV-positive group were significantly higher than in the HPV-negative group (ORadj: 1.810, 95%CI: 1.211–2.705, P=0.004; ORadj: 11.032, 95%CI: 1.465–83.056, P=0.020, respectively).

Discussion

Through detailed Mycoplasma typing, a correlation was found between different Mycoplasma subtypes and HPV infection. These findings suggest that greater attention should be paid to detecting vaginal microecological disorders in those who are HPV-positive. Further, lower genital tract infections, including both vaginal infections and cervical STIs, are significantly more common among women who are HPV-positive and who thus require more thorough testing. Detailed typing and targeted treatment of Mycoplasma should become more routine in clinical practice.

Prevalence of coinfections in a cross-sectional cohort of women screened for multiple pathogens in Peru

Objective

To determine the prevalence and risk factors of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma genitalium among asymptomatic women with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was performed in 842 asymptomatic women from Cajamarca, Peru. The pathogens were detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the results were analyzed according to the HPV status: high-risk HPV, low-risk HPV and negative for HPV. Demographical and gyneco-obstetric data was analyzed to identify risk factors.

Results

We found that 23.99% (202/842) women were positive for HPV, of whom 79.21% (160/202) were infected with a high-risk genotype. Co-infections were evaluated and 14.38% (23/160) were positive for Ureaplasma urealyticum, 9.38% (15/160) for Chlamydia trachomatis and 1.25% (2/160) for Mycoplasma genitalium. We found a significant association between HPV genotype and the number of children, partners, and history of sexual abuse. The co-infection between high-risk HPV and Chlamydia trachomatis was associated with number of abortions, number of sexual partners and no use of condom. Finally, co-infection between high-risk HPV and Ureaplasma urealyticum was associated with no use of condom and history of STIs.

Conclusion

HPV infection continues to be a highly relevant problem in Peru, particularly due to the high prevalence of high-risk genotypes. In addition, we report high rates of co-infections with other STIs, such as U. urealyticum and C. trachomatis. We highlight the importance of active surveillance to promptly diagnose these infections, since they may lead to persistent HPV infections.

Status and epidemiological characteristics of high-risk human papillomavirus infection in multiple centers in Shenyang

The different human papillomavirus (HPV) strains cause warts in various regions of the body. However, considering that the status and genotype distribution of HPV infection in women in Shenyang remain unknown, herein, we investigated the epidemiological characteristics of high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) infection in women in Shenyang, as well as the current state of HPV infection in Shenyang, to provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of cervical cancer. From December 2018 to December 2021, 6,432 urban and rural women from the Liaoning Cancer Hospital and the Sujiatun Women and Infants’ Hospital were assessed via the Thinprep cytology test (TCT) and HR-HPV detection. Of the 5,961 women enrolled, 739 were HPV positive (12.40%) and 562 were TCT positive (9.43%). Statistical analyses identified the following HPV risk factors: high school education or lower [OR = 1.426 (1.199–1.696), p < 0.001], age at first sexual encounter ≤ 19 years [OR = 1.496 (1.008–2.220), p = 0.046], and number of sexual partners > 1 [OR = 1.382 (1.081–1.768), p = 0.010], atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) and above [OR = 10.788 (8.912–13.060), p < 0.001], non-condom-based contraception [OR = 1.437 (1.103–1.871), p = 0.007], nationalities other than Han [OR = 1.690 (1.187–2.406), p = 0.004], rural residence [OR = 1.210 (1.031–1.419), p = 0.020]. Compared to the HPV infection rate of women aged 56–65, that in women aged 35–45 [OR = 0.687 (0.549–0.860), p = 0.001] and 46–55 [OR = 0.740 (0.622–0.879), p = 0.001] decreased significantly. To conclude, risk factors of HPV infection among female patients include high school age and below, initial sexual encounter at age ≤ 19 years, number of sexual partners > 1, ASCUS and above, non-condom contraception, nationalities other than Han nationality and rural population. Collectively, this study provides insights for the improved prevention and treatment of cervical cancer.

The Awareness of the Human Papillomavirus Infection and Oropharyngeal Cancer in People to Improve the Health Care System at Al Qunfudhah Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

With 14 million new infections each year, the human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) among both men and women in the United States (US). Infections with the human papillomavirus (HPV) are responsible for a considerable portion of the global cancer burden. HPV-related oral malignancies are on the rise around the world, according to epidemiological studies. To provide accurate advice to their patients, dental practitioners require thorough, up-to-date HPV-related knowledge. Methods. In this cross-sectional study, data were collected by the purposely constructed questionnaire. A questionnaire composed of the demographic items and items related to the awareness and knowledge about Human papillomavirus. The questionnaire was constructed after a series of discussions between the panel of experts. This panel was composed of a subject specialist, researcher, and language expert. The Cronbach alpha of the questionnaire was calculated. The study will be conducted in the Al Qunfudhah. Results. The Cronbach alpha of the questionnaire was 0.72. Out of a total of 550 respondents, with a mean (SD) age of 47.5 (11.5), the female respondents were 167 (30.4%) while male were 383 (69.6%). 20.5% of the respondents (out of 550) were having awareness of HPV. Implications. Knowledge of HPV-related oral cancer is critical, and it is advised to be taught as part of dental students' basic curriculum and clinical training. This problem can be solved by better educational training programs. Knowledge of HPV-related oral cancer is critical, and it is advised to be taught as part of dental students' basic curriculum and clinical training.