Abstract
Background and Objectives: The role of Mycoplasma is important as a causative agent of urogenital infection. Therefore, in this study we aimed at determining and comparing the prevalence of urogenital infections due to Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum with multiplex PCR and culture methods.
Materials and Methods: In this study, the frequency of M. hominis and U. urealyticum in women with urogenital infections was determined by multiplex PCR and cultivation methods in 155 genital samples and 110 urine samples.
Results: The isolation rate of Mycoplasma from 265 examined specimens (genital and urine samples) was 46 strains (17.3%) by multiplex PCR and 10 strains (3.7%) by culture method. Also, in multiplex PCR method, M. hominis and U. urealyticum were detected in 7.1 and 8.4 percent of women with genital infections (155 cases), respectively. In the culture method, M. hominis was detected in 3.2 percent of them and U. urealyticum in none of them. There was significant difference between patients with and without abortion history regarding the existence of M. hominis and U. urealyticum (P<0.001). Based on the Macnemar test, multiplex PCR showed more accuracy than the culture method.
Conclusion: Since isolation of Mycoplasma by culture medium is difficult, time consuming and mostly unsuccessful, multiplex PCR could be substituted as a rapid, sensitive and trusty method.