title: The prevalence of urogenital micro-organisms detected by a multiplex PCR-reverse line blot assay in women attending three sexual health clinics in Sydney, Australia.
abstract: This study used a previously described multiplex PCR-based reverse line blot (mPCR/RLB) assay to assess the prevalence and distribution of 14 urogenital pathogens or putative pathogens, namely Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Mycoplasma hominis, Trichomonas vaginalis, Gardnerella vaginalis, Ureaplasma parvum, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, and human adenovirus. First-voided urine specimens and endocervical and self-collected vaginal swabs from each of 216 women attending three sexual health clinics in Sydney, Australia, were tested and the results were compared with those of reference methods for each organism. One hundred and sixty-eight women (77.7 %) had at least one and 105 (48.6 %) had more than one target organism, most commonly G. vaginalis and Ureaplasma spp. The prevalence of each of the four known sexually transmissible pathogens was <5 %. Of the 216 women, 111 (51.4 %) reported at least one symptom consistent with genital or urethral infection, including discharge, pain or discomfort. Only G. vaginalis was detected more frequently in women with symptoms (P = 0.05). The specificity of the mPCR/RLB assay compared with that of the reference methods for each organism and for all specimen types was 100 %. The mean sensitivities of the mPCR/RLB assay compared with those of the reference methods for self-collected vaginal swabs, cervical swabs and first-voided urine specimens for all organisms were 99.3, 98.1 and 84.6 %, respectively; however, these differences were not significant. There were no differences in sensitivities between specimen types for C. trachomatis, N. gonorrhoeae, T. vaginalis and H. influenzae, although all were found infrequently. Overall, the mPCR/RLB platform was found to be an accurate testing platform in a sexual health clinic setting.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.|Sexually Transmitted Infections Research Centre, University of Sydney, Marian Villa, Westmead Hospital, NSW 2145, Australia.
authors.forename: Michelle L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: McKechnie
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Hillman
authors.affiliation: Parramatta Sexual Health Clinic, Jeffery House, 162 Marsden Street, Parramatta, NSW 2145, Australia.|Sexually Transmitted Infections Research Centre, University of Sydney, Marian Villa, Westmead Hospital, NSW 2145, Australia.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Parramatta Sexual Health Clinic, Jeffery House, 162 Marsden Street, Parramatta, NSW 2145, Australia.
authors.forename: Penelope C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Lowe
authors.affiliation: Parramatta Sexual Health Clinic, Jeffery House, 162 Marsden Street, Parramatta, NSW 2145, Australia.
authors.forename: Deborah L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Couldwell
authors.affiliation: Northern Sydney Sexual Health Service, Clinic 16, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonard's, NSW 2065, Australia.
authors.forename: Stephen C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.affiliation: Northern Sydney Sexual Health Service, Clinic 16, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonard's, NSW 2065, Australia.
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: King
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.
authors.forename: Fanrong
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.
authors.forename: Gwendolyn L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Gilbert
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D014566:Urogenital System / Q000382:microbiology; D055815:Young Adult