Prevalence of , , and detection in urine and respiratory tract samples in Hiroshima, Japan.

BACKGROUND

, , and are commensal bacteria that are associated with colonization and infection of the urogenital tract. However, colonization of the respiratory tract by these microorganisms in adults has not been fully investigated.

METHODS

Urine and respiratory tract samples (sputum, tracheal aspirates, and bronchoalveolar lavage) of patients aged 20-80 years were analyzed to detect the presence of , , and using a conventional PCR method. The samples were submitted to the microbiological clinical laboratory of Hiroshima University Hospital from December 1, 2021 to May 31, 2022.

RESULTS

In total, 334 urine and 238 respiratory tract samples were analyzed. The overall detection rates of , , and were 2.9%, 1.7%, and 2.3% in male urine; 7.0%, 13.8%, and 1.9% in female urine; 2.2%, 0%, and 2.2% in male respiratory tract; and 0%, 2.0%, and 0% in female respiratory tract, respectively. In urine samples, the detection rates of , , and were significantly higher (p < 0.001) for women (29/159; 18.2%) than for men (10/175; 5.7%); however, in respiratory tract samples, the detection rates were not significantly different (p = 0.70) between women (2/101; 2.0%) and men (5/137; 3.7%). Further, both the urine and respiratory samples of 83 patients were analyzed. Three male samples were positive for or , and and were matched in both the urine and respiratory tract samples: (n = 1), (n = 1),  +  (n = 1).

CONCLUSION

, , and were detected in the respiratory tract of not only the young patients, but also of patients aged 50-60 years. Further studies are required to understand the relationship of these microorganisms in urogenital and respiratory tract samples with extra-genital infections.