Prevalence of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) among Italian Women Referred for a Colposcopy

Abstract

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) represent a major cause of morbidity in women and men worldwide. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infections are among the most prevalent STIs and persistent infections with high-risk HPV (hrHPV) genotypes can cause cervical dysplasia and invasive cervical cancer. The association of other STIs with HPV cervical infection and/or dysplasia has however not yet been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of HPV and other STIs among women presenting with an abnormal cervical cytology. Cervical infections with 28 HPV genotypes and seven other sexually transmitted pathogens were evaluated in 177 women referred for a colposcopy after an abnormal Pap smear. Positivity for at least one hrHPV genotype was shown in 87% of women; HPV 16 was the most prevalent (25.0%), followed by HPV 31 and HPV 51. The overall positivity for other STIs was 49.2%, with Ureaplasma parvum being the most prevalent microrganism (39.0%). Co-infections between hrHPV and other STIs were demonstrated in 17.5% of women; no significant association was demonstrated between multiple infections and the colposcopy findings. This study provides new epidemiological data on the prevalence of cervical infections associated with HPV and seven other common sexually transmitted pathogens in a population of women presenting with an abnormal cervical cytology.

Molecular Detection of Sexually Transmitted Infections in Women with and without Human Papillomaviruses Infection Who Referred to Tehran West Hospitals in Iran

“…Marianna Martinelli et al also evaluated some of STI pathogens in women Pap smear with an abnormal cervical cytology and reported prevalence of 6(5.26%), 2(1.75%), 0(0%) and 0(0%) in U. urealyticum, M. hominis, C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae respectively in high-risk HPVs (31). The prevalence of U. urealyticum, M. hominis, C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae in our study was higher (25.8%, 12.9%, 3.2%, 6.4% respectively) in high-risk HPV group, as compared with the study conducted by Marianna Martinelli.…”

Comparison of Different Self-Sampling Devices for Molecular Detection of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs): A Pilot Study

“…Interactions between high-risk HPV (hrHPV) infections and other pathogens could accelerate cancer progression, enhancing HPV replication and persistence of infection. A high prevalence of STIs has also recently been reported in Italy in association with hrHPV and cervical dysplasia [ 8 ]. Wang and colleagues reported an association between Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) subtypes and cervical cancer [ 7 ]; further studies reported that Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) increases the risk of cervical cancer [ 9 , 10 ].…”

Exposure to Sex Education and Its Effects on Adolescent Sexual Behavior in Nigeria

“…It has also been estimated that 25% of all sexually active female adolescents have experienced one or more forms of sexually transmitted infection, with the most common as human papillomavirus and Chlamydia trachomatis . Sexually transmitted infections have established as major cause of morbidity among women and men that has potential for high risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) infections which in chain-like reaction could spur cervical cancer [ 13 ]. While the identification of STIs as co-factor of cervical cancer in most women that are HPV-positive (Martinelli et al [ 13 ]) cannot be treated with levity, the evidence of similar linkage betweenSTD trichomoniasis and prostate cancer [ 14 ] should call for serious concern in public health domain.…”