Genital infections and reproductive complications associated with Trichomonas vaginalis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Streptococcus agalactiae in women of Qom, central Iran.

BACKGROUND

() and () are two most common non-viral sexually transmitted infections in the world. No data are available regarding the epidemiology of genital infections in women of Qom, central Iran.

OBJECTIVE

Epidemiological investigation of sexually transmitted infections in genital specimens of women referred to the referral gynecology hospital in Qom, central Iran.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Genital swab specimens were collected from women volunteers and used for identification of bacterial and protozoal infections by conventional microbial diagnostics, pseudo gene LightCycler real-time PCR (for ) and ITS-PCR (for ).

RESULTS

Of 420 volunteers, 277 (65.9%) had genital signs/symptoms, including 38.3% malodorous discharge, 37.9% dyspareunia, and 54.8% abdominal pain. Totally, 2 isolates of were identified. Five specimens (1.2%) in Thayer-Martin culture and 17 (4.1%) in real-time PCR were identified as . Fifty-four specimens (12.9%) in wet mount, 64 (15.2%) in Dorset's culture, and 81 (19.3%) in ITS-PCR showed positive results for . Five mixed infections of + were found. The risk of infection was increased in women with low-birth-weight (p0.00; OR=43.29), history of abortion (p0.00; OR=91.84), and premature rupture of membranes (PROM) (p0.00; OR=21.75). The probability of finding nuclear leukocytes (p0.00; OR=43.34) in vaginal smear was higher in infection.

CONCLUSION

The significant prevalence of trichomoniasis and gonorrhea emphasizes the need for accurate diagnosis and effective surveillance to prevent serious reproductive complications in women.