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. 2023 Nov 27:11:1228048.
doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1228048. eCollection 2023.

Characteristics of common pathogens of urogenital tract among outpatients in Shanghai, China from 2016 to 2021

Su Wang #  1   2   3 , Li Ding #  1   2   3 , Yixin Liu #  4 , Zhaoyang Sun #  1   2   3 , Wenrong Jiang  1   2   3 , Yingxin Miao  1   2   3 , Shiwen Wang  1   2   3 , Jun Meng  5 , Hu Zhao  1   2   3
Affiliations

Characteristics of common pathogens of urogenital tract among outpatients in Shanghai, China from 2016 to 2021

Su Wang et al. Front Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: Ureaplasma urealyticum, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae are the prevalent causes of several genital diseases worldwide; however, their characteristics in different genders have not been well documented in Shanghai. The aim of this study is to describe the prevalence of common pathogens among outpatients, considering variations by gender and age.

Methods: From January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2021, the urogenital swabs of 16216 outpatients aged 3-95 years from two general hospitals in Shanghai were collected. All participants' swabs were investigated for U. urealyticum, C. trachomatis, and N. gonorrhoeae by isothermal RNA-based simultaneous amplification and testing. The basic information of all participants was also recorded, including age and gender. The chi-square test was used to compare the prevalence between different genders, age groups, and infection patterns.

Results: There were 5,744 patients (35.42%) with positive samples whose ages ranged from 7 to 80 years (33.23 ± 8.63 years), and 62.14% of them were women. The most common pathogen detected was U. urealyticum (85.08%). The highest prevalence rate of all three pathogens was found in patients aged ≤ 20 years (40.53%, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 33.80%-47.63%). The prevalent rate of U. urealyticum was higher in men (33.36%, 95% CI: 32.19%-34.55%). The overall prevalence rates of U. urealyticum, C. trachomatis, and N. gonorrhoeae were 30.14% (95% CI: 29.44%-30.85%), 6.00% (95% CI: 5.64%-6.38%), and 2.10% (95% CI: 1.89%-2.33%).

Conclusions: Ureaplasma urealyticum was the most prevalent pathogen in the population, and its prevalence decreased with age. Young men aged ≤ 20 years were more frequently infected. Regular screening for sexually transmitted pathogens in different genders and age groups are warranted, particularly in young men.

Keywords: Chlamydia trachomatis; Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Ureaplasma urealyticum; outpatients; urogenital tract.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The positive detection rates (PDRs) in different age groups. (A) In 5,744 total positive patients in different genders (Z = 4.3292, P < 0.0001). (B) In 4,887 patients with UU infection (Z = 4.5677, P < 0.0001). (C) In 973 patients with CT infection (Z = 1.0633, P = 0.2877). (D) in 340 patients with NG infection (Z = 1.6276, P = 0.1036).
Figure 2
Figure 2
The distribution of co-infection patterns (A) in 4,887 UU infected cases. (B) In 973 CT infected cases. (C) In 340 NG infected cases.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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