The Prevalence of Genital Mycoplasmas in Vaginal Infections in Gorgan, Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant professor of obstetrics & Gynecology, Golestan Research Center of Infectious Disease, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Golestan, Iran.

2 Professor of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Golestan, Iran.

3 M.Sc. in Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Golestan, Iran.

4 Instructor of Biostatistics, Health Department, Paramedicine faculty, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Golestan, Iran.

5 Associate professor of obstetrics & Gynecology, Golestan Research Center of Infectious Disease, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Golestan, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction: Mycoplasma Hominis and Ureaplasma Urealiticum are bacterial floras of vagina. In some studies their role in vaginal infections is emphasized but there are differences of opinions. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence and role of genital Mycoplasmas in women with vaginal infections in northern city of Iran, Gorgan.
Methods: Thisstudy was done by evaluation vaginal discharge of 235 women with vaginal infections who were referred to Gorgan Deziani Hospital in 2007. Diagnosis of infection type was done by Amsel method, clinical observations and microscopic evaluations. Diagnosis of Mycoplasma was done with culture in PPLO Broth and Agar media, and PCR with specific primers of 16S rDNA of Mycoplasma Hominis species and the primer of urease gene of Ureaplasma Urealiticum. SPSS software version15 used to record the data and then were analyzed by χ2 and t-test. p<0.05 was considered as significant.
Results: Mycoplasma was isolated in vaginal discharges of 30 women (12.8%). Its prevalence in woman with bacterial vaginosis was 14.3% and 11.9% in women with vaginitis. Mycoplasma Hominis was isolated in 18 women (7.7%) and Ureaplasma Urealiticum in another 18 (7.7%) of them. 6 (20%) women were contaminated with both M. Hominis and U. Urealiticum at the same time. Over 83% of women with Mycoplasma had higher than 4.5 pH discharge and the average age of women with Mycoplasmas was significantly more than the women without Mycoplasmas (34.2 years vs. 30.9 years). The mean number of white blood cells and Lactoform bacteria in women contaminated with Mycoplasma and without Mycoplasma was 3.2 compared to 6.5, and 7.4 compared to 42.1 respectively. These differences were statistically significant (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Prevalence of genital Mycoplasma in women with vaginal infections is lower than expected and this issue is not directly related to the type of vaginal infection. The reduced number of white blood cells and Lactobacill, PH>4.5 of vaginal discharge and older age of women could increase the probability of Mycoplasma infection.

Keywords

References

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