# Real-time polymerase chain reaction results of urogenital system samples and their relationship with other sexually transmitted diseases

## TL;DR

This study analyzed urogenital samples using real-time PCR to detect pathogens and their relation to other sexually transmitted diseases in 100 patients.

## Contribution

The study provides insights into the prevalence of multiple urogenital pathogens and their association with HIV, HBV, HCV, and syphilis.

## Key findings

- 65% of patients had at least one pathogen detected, with U. parvum in women and M. genitalium in men being most common.
- HIV, syphilis, and HBV were also detected in 13, 3, and 2 patients, respectively.
- PCR proved effective in identifying multiple pathogens when traditional methods failed.

## Abstract

This study aimed to examine the results obtained by multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for microorganisms in urogenital tract samples sent to the molecular microbiology laboratory than patients of sexually transmitted infections suspected. In addition, we evaluated them alongside HIV, HBV, HCV, and syphilis test results.

Urine, vaginal swab, and urethral discharge samples submitted to Duzce University, Medical Microbiology Laboratory between March 2023 to November 2023 were included in the cross-sectional study. Multiplex PCR was used to assess the positivity of Ureaplasma urealyticum, Ureaplasma parvum, Mycoplasma hominis, Neisseria gonorrhea, Trichomonas vaginalis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Treponema pallidum, Haemophilus ducreyi, and Chlamydia trachomatis. Additionally, the patients’ serological test results for HBV, HCV, HIV, and syphilis were examined retrospectively.

A total of one hundred patient samples were sent to the Molecular Microbiology Laboratory during the study period. Twenty-eight patients were female and 72 were male, and the mean age was 34.11±10.63 (19-72). A total of 109 positive pathogens were detected in 65 (65%) patients. The positivity rate in women was 75% and in men was 62%, and was statistically similar (p=0.191). The most common pathogen detected in women was U. parvum, and in men was M. genitalium. Thirteen patients were positive for HIV, three for syphilis, and two for HBV.

Molecular microbiological methods may be useful in patients suspected of having a urogenital system infection when no pathogens are cultured or when the presence of multiple pathogens must be identified to guide treatment.