AUTHOR=Wang Su , Ding Li , Liu Yixin , Sun Zhaoyang , Jiang Wenrong , Miao Yingxin , Wang Shiwen , Meng Jun , Zhao Hu 

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

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1228048

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2023.1228048

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Background</title><p><italic>Ureaplasma urealyticum, Chlamydia trachomatis</italic>, and <italic>Neisseria gonorrhoeae</italic> 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.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>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 <italic>U. urealyticum, C. trachomatis</italic>, and <italic>N. gonorrhoeae</italic> 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.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>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 <italic>U. urealyticum</italic> (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 <italic>U. urealyticum</italic> was higher in men (33.36%, 95% CI: 32.19%-34.55%). The overall prevalence rates of <italic>U. urealyticum, C. trachomatis</italic>, and <italic>N. gonorrhoeae</italic> 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%).</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusions</title><p><italic>Ureaplasma urealyticum</italic> 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.</p></sec>