title: Microbial and vaginal determinants influencing Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum genital colonization in a population of female patients.
abstract: Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum are associated with chorioamnionitis, preterm delivery and pelvic inflammatory disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible risk factors of co-colonization by M. hominis in patients already colonized by U. urealyticum and compare demographic parameters, vaginal pH and microbiota of women colonized by U. urealyticum or M. hominis. A total of 452 patients positive for U. urealyticum or M. hominis were analysed, 421 (93.1%) of whom were positive for U. urealyticum and 31 (6.9%) for M. hominis. Patients positive for M. hominis compared to patients positive for U. urealyticum were more frequently colonized by Gardnerella vaginalis (71% vs 18.5%; p 0.0001), less frequently by lactobacilli (16.1% vs 61.5%; p 0.0001), and more frequently had a pH value higher than 4.5 (96.8% vs 57%; p 0.0001), all conditions associated to bacterial vaginosis (BV). Logistic regression analysis showed that only G. vaginalis colonization and pH higher than 4.5 were independently related to M. hominis colonization (respectively p 0.0001 and p 0.016). Thus, in women colonized by U. urealyticum, BV is an independent risk factor for M. hominis co-colonization.
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Section, Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leli
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meucci
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vento
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: D'Alò
authors.forename: Senia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Farinelli
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perito
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bistoni
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mencacci
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006771:Hospitals, Maternity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D019535:Mycoplasma hominis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016869:Ureaplasma Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D016990:Ureaplasma urealyticum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000706:statistics & numerical data