Clinical Implications of Multiplex PCR Detection of Fastidious Microorganisms in Vaginitis Patients

Abstract

Background: Bacterial vaginitis (BV) and Trichomonas vaginitis are the most frequently recurring infectious diseases in women. Therefore, accurate tests for post-treatment follow-up are required. A multiplex PCR assay allows for the simultaneous detection of multiple pathogens in a single specimen. In this study, we assessed the clinical implications of multi-plex PCR detection of fastidious microorganisms causing vaginitis. Methods: A total of 216 vaginitis patients who pre-sented to Chung-Ang University Yongsan Hospital with more than one positive result on multiplex PCR (Trichomonas vaginalis (TV), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Ureaplasma ure-alyticum (UU), Mycoplasma genitalium (MG), Myco-plasma hominis (MH)) were retrospectively enrolled in this study. Each patient's clinical symptoms, initial treatment and follow-up for BV, and other related test results were also retrospectively reviewed. Results: The most commonly reported symptom was abnormal discharge, followed by pruritis (73.1%), lower abdominal pain (38.4%), urination difficulties (13%), and others such as fever. According to the multiplex PCR results, there were 116 cases (35.8%) of MH, 86 cases (26.5%) of UU, 62 cases (19.1%) of CT, and 84 cases (38.9%) were mixed infections. Among those patients with single infections, treatment changed for 63 cases (65.6%) while treatment remained un-changed for 17 (17.7%) after PCR results were re-ported. Conclusion: The diagnosis of BV using multiplex PCR is clinically effective and the results of which can be incorporated in antibiotic selection for patients with multiple sexually transmitted diseases (STD). Multiplex PCR may be especially helpful in the diagnosis of patients in whom the differentiation of STD patho-gens is difficult using traditional methods. (Korean J Clin Microbiol 2011;14:30-35)