• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.270-276
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• 2022

This study analyzed the epidemiological trends of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) according to age and sex among individuals aged 50 years or older in South Korea from September 2018 to December 2020. We found that the positivity rate for Gardnerella vaginalis was the highest in the study group, followed by the positivity rate for Ureaplasma parvum (UP). Interestingly, the positivity rates for Mycoplasma hominis and UP were higher in female participants than in male participants. The positivity rate for Treponema pallidum was very low in the female participants. During the study period, the positivity rate for herpes simplex virus 2 increased in the female participants, while the positivity rate for Candida increased in the male participants. These results show that the STI positivity rate varies according to age and sex, and a difference was observed in the average age of positive participants according to the type of STIs. We found a clear pattern of infection in the elderly population and according to sex. Our findings are expected to be used as baseline data for future research, education, and prevention of STIs in the elderly population.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.124-127
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• 2012

Syphilis is an infectious and sexually transmitted chronic disease caused by Treponema pallidum. On the basis of clinical findings, the disease has been divided into a series of overlapping stages, which are used to help guide treatment and follow-up. Persons who have syphilis might seek treatment for signs or symptoms of primary infection, secondary infection and tertiary infection. Latent infections are detected by serologic testing. A presumptive diagnosis of syphilis is possible with the use of two types of serologic tests: nontreponemal tests and treponemal tests assay. The use of only one type of serologic test is insufficient for diagnosis, because each type of test has limitations, including the possibility of false-positive test results in persons without syphilis. KFDA published Koreans guideline of Sexually transmitted infections in 2011. Two hundred samples were tested by RPR card test and Mediace RPR test with simultaneously. The agreement between RPR card test and Mediace RPR test was 95%, the discrepant samples was 5%. The characteristics of 10 discrepant samples was RPR card Positive and Mediace RPR negative nine samples, RPR card negative and Mediace RPR positive one sample. The nine samples were confirmed as FTA-ABS by KFDA guideline of syphilis test algorism, all IgM test was Negative, all IgG test was reactive. So, these cases were past or latent syphilis. The one sample was false-positive reaction.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.85-90
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• 2018

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a global health concern and can cause serious complications such as miscarriage, premature birth, and pelvic infection in pregnant women. Therefore, accurate diagnosis and information on the epidemiologic trends are critical. However, studies of STI trends in Cheonan, South Korea, have not been conducted since 2012. We examined the STI trends in the Cheonan area after 2012. From January 2011 to September 2017, 3,362 cervical swab specimens from female patients were sampled at the Dankook University Hospital and analyzed by multiplex PCR. Of the 3,362 specimens, 1,281 were positive for pathogens (38.92%). A total of 1,893 pathogens were detected. Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis, and Chlamydia trachomatis were the most frequent pathogens, accounting for 36.29% (687/1,893), 30.16% (571/1,893), and 19.97% (378/1,893) of the pathogen-positive samples, respectively. In the 2009-2012 analysis, M. hominis was identified as the predominant pathogen in STI samples, whereas U. urealyticum was identified as the major pathogen in this study. In many countries, including South Korea and the United States, the rate of STIs is increasing, while a decreasing trend was observed in Cheonan.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.390-397
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• 2019

High risk-human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) is known to be a major cause of cervical cancer, and coinfection of sexually transmitted pathogen (STP) has been reported to cause persistent HPV infection. However, the relationship between HPV and STP coinfection remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to analyze the coinfection rate with STP in high-risk human papillomavirus infected women in Busan and to collect basic data for the prevention of cervical lesions. This study was carried out in 355 women who had concurrent HPV and STP screening at Busan local hospital between January 2016 and December 2017. HPV and STP coinfection was found in 187 (52.7%) out of 355 cases. HR-HPV and STP coinfection was 82.9% higher than LR-HPV and STP coinfections 17.1%. In HR-HPV infection, Ureaplasma species was the most common pathogen (47.1%), followed by C. trachomatis (21.9%) and Mycoplasma species (12.3%). In the analysis of HR-HPV genotype according to STP, HPV 16 (12.0%) was the most frequent, followed by HPV 58 (11.6%), HPV 39 (11.1%) and HPV 52 (10.2%), but HPV 18 showed a low coinfection rate of 1.3%. According to the results of age, HR-HPV and STP coinfection rate was the highest at 41.9% among women aged 18 to 29. HR-HPV and Ureaplasma species showed the highest coinfection rates at all ages, followed by C. trachomatis and Mycoplasma species. Further studies with more samples will be needed to determine if the coinfection of HR-HPV and STPs is involved in the development of cervical tumors through histologic changes.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.307-316
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• 2022

Purpose: This study investigated the vulnerability to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and associated factors among married women in northwest Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional survey (n=657) was conducted from April 1 to 15, 2020, in Metema District, northwest Ethiopia, in four randomly selected kebele administrations (the lowest level of local government). The inclusion criteria were married women aged ≥18 years residing with their husbands. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with married women's vulnerability to HIV infection. Results: Participants were on average 33.70±9.50 years and nearly one-fourth (n=148, 22.5%) were identified as vulnerable to HIV infection (i.e., experienced sexually transmitted disease symptoms or an extramarital affair of either spouse within the past 12 months). Only 18.9% reported sexual communication with their husband. Respondents who did not discuss the risk of HIV infection with their husbands had fivefold odds of vulnerability (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 5.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.43-17.5). Those who did not have premarital sex (AOR, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.05-0.77) had no worries about HIV infection (AOR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.08-0.94), sufficient income (AOR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.16-0.86), and less than four children (AOR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.50-0.97) had decreased odds of being vulnerable to HIV than their counterparts. Conclusion: Not discussing risk of HIV infection with husband was a major factor of vulnerability to HIV infection as was premarital sex, worry about HIV, income, and number of children. Measures to strengthen couple's sexual communication and support economical stability is important for decreasing HIV vulnerability.

• Journal of applied mathematics & informatics
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• v.31 no.3_4
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• pp.443-456
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• 2013

In this paper we consider a model with demographics for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) spread on scale-free networks. We derive the epidemic threshold, which is depend on the birth rate, the natural death rate and other parameters. The absence of a threshold in infinite scale-free network is proved. For a hard cut off scale-free network, we also analyze the stability of disease-free equilibrium and the persistence of STDs infection. Two immunization schemes, proportional scheme and targeted vaccination, are studied and compared. We find that targeted strategy is more effective on scale-free networks.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.98-103
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• 1985

근래에 이르러 예전의 좀 감정적인 용도로서의 성병(venereal disease)이라는 용어보다는 "성적으로" 전염되는 질환(sexually transmitted diseases; STDs)이라는 용어를 사용한다. STDs는 전염성 질환의 일단으로 그 주요한 전염경로가 성행위에 의한 것이다. 예전 용어 그 자체의 함축된 의미를 극소화시킬 필요성은 그렇다하더라도, 임질(gonorrhoea), 매독(syphilis), 비특이성(non-specific) 혹은 비임균성(non-gonococcal) 요도염 (urethritis), 연성하감(chancroid), 림포그래뉼로마 베네레움(lymphogranuloma venereum), 그래뉼로마 잉규나레(granuloma inguinale), 크라미디아 질환(chlamydial infection), 음부 혜르페스(genital herpes), 음부 사마귀(genital warts), 캔디다증(condidiasis), 트리코모나스(trichomoniasis), 마이코프라스마(mycoplasma))을 포함한 성병 (venereal disease)의 범위를 확대해야 할 필요가 있다. B형 간염(hepatitis B), B형 연쇄상구균(B-streptococcus), 사이토메가로바이러스(cytomegalovirus)도 역시 성적 전염이 가능하다. 전염이 가능하다.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.133-136
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• 2007

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States. An estimated 6.2 million people are infected with HPV every year. Randomized controlled studies consistently show that HPV vaccine is effective in preventing infection and HPV related cervical lesions. In June 2006, Gardasil (qadrivalent HPV recombinant vaccine) was approved by the FDA for use in females 9-26 years of age. This article reviews published data to evaluate the effectiveness of HPV vaccine for the prevention of cervical cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.1177-1180
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• 2014

Background: Anogenital warts (AGWs) are common results of sexually transmitted infection (STI). Human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6 and 11, which are non-oncogenic types, account for 90% of the clinical manifestations. Although the quadrivalent HPV vaccine has been launched, AGW remains prevalent in some countries and shows association with abnormal cervical cytology. Objectives: To study the prevalence of abnormal cervical cytology (low grade squamous intraepithelial lesions or worse; LSIL+) in immunocompetent Thai women newly presenting with external AGWs. Materials and Methods: Medical charts of all women attending Siriraj STI clinic during 2007-2011 were reviewed. Only women presenting with external AGWs who were not immunocompromised (pregnant, human immunodeficiency virus positive or being on immunosuppressant drugs) and had not been diagnosed with cervical cancer were included into the study. Multivariate analysis was used to determine the association between the characteristics of the patients and those of AGWs and LSIL+. Results: A total of 191 women were eligible, with a mean age of $27.0{\pm}8.9$ years; and a mean body mass index of $20.6{\pm}8.9kg/m^2$. Half of them finished university. The most common type of AGWs was exophytic (80.1%). The posterior fourchette appeared to be the most common affected site of the warts (31.9%), followed by labia minora (26.6%) and mons pubis (19.9%). The median number of lesions was 3 (range 1-20). Around 40% of them had recurrent warts within 6 months after completing the treatment. The prevalence of LSIL+ at the first visit was 16.3% (LSIL 12.6%, ASC-H 1.1%, HSIL 2.6%). After adjusting for age, parity and miscarriage, number of warts ${\geq}5$ was the only factor associated with LSIL+(aOR 2.65, 95%CI 1.11-6.29, p 0.027). Conclusions: LSIL+ is prevalent among immunocompetent Thai women presenting with external AGWs, especially those with multiple lesions.

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.87-95
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the condition of feminine hygiene behaviors to identify factors predicting bacterial vaginosis infection. Methods: A self-reporting survey was conducted with 385 female university students in Korea through a descriptive survey. Data were collected on demographics, feminine hygiene behaviors, and bacterial vaginosis infection. Results: The bacterial vaginosis infection rate was 37.9%. Factors predicting bacterial vaginosis infection were grade, age of menarche, history of sexual intercourse, history of sexually transmitted infection, experience of using a bidet, internal douche during menses, over the counter drug anti-itch products, tampons, and tampons/pads combination. Conclusion: To prevent bacterial vaginosis infection among female university students, information and education should be provided to promote positive feminine hygiene behaviors at the university and at home. Results of this study are essential to improve education and practices that will prevent bacterial vaginosis in female university students.