Comparison of the incidence of sexually transmitted infections and vaginal microbiota disturbances associated with opportunistic microorganisms in women in 2019–2021


DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/epidem.2023.13.1.87-93

Makhova T.I., Goloveshkina E.N., Akimkin V.G.

Central Research Institute of Epidemiology, Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being, Moscow, Russia
Objective. To compare DNA detection cases in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and vaginal microbiota disturbances (VMDs) associated with opportunistic microorganisms in 2019–2021 and to assess their association.
Subjects and methods. The results of the 2019-021 laboratory studies for DNA of STI pathogens and microorganisms associated with bacterial vaginosis, aerobic vaginitis, and vulvovaginal candidiasis were analyzed in 128,512 women.
Results. During the study period, there was an increase in cases of N. gonorrhoeae DNA detection, while no significant differences were found for T. vaginalis and M. genitalium. For C. trachomatis, there was a decline in the number of detected cases in 2020 and a return to the figure of 2019 in 2021. Significantly fewer cases of VMDs were detected in 2020, whereas the number of cases increased in 2021 versus 2019. There was an increase in the chance of infection for a number of STIs in the presence of VMDs.
Conclusion. The 2020 pandemic period did not substantially affect the decline in the number of detected STIs. The increased chance of infection for a number of STIs in VMDs should be taken into account when choosing the scope of laboratory tests and prescribing therapy. Further work is needed to introduce effective STI prevention measures.
Keywords: vaginal microbiota disturbances, STIs, aerobic vaginitis, Candida spp., polymerase chain reaction, bacterial vaginosis
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About the Autors

Tamara I. Makhova, Researcher, Laboratory for Molecular Diagnosis and Epidemiology of Reproductive Organ Infections, Central Research Institute of Epidemiology, Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being, Moscow, Russia; tamara.dolgova89@gmail.com; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7502-6473
Elena N. Goloveshkina, Cand. Biol. Sci., Head, Laboratory for Molecular Diagnosis and Epidemiology of Reproductive Organ Infections, Central Research Institute of Epidemiology, Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being, Moscow, Russia; goloveshkina@cmd.su; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0536-2874
Professor Vasily G. Akimkin, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, MD, Director, Central Research Institute of Epidemiology, Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being, Moscow, Russia; crie@pcr.ru; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4228-9044


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