TỶ LỆ ĐƠN NHIỄM VÀ ĐỒNG NHIỄM CHLAMYDIA TRACHOMATIS VÀ NEISSERIA GONORRHOEAE TẠI BỆNH VIỆN ĐẠI HỌC Y DƯỢC TPHCM

Abstract

Objectives: Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) remain a significant burden on global public health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over one million new infections from sexually transmitted infections (STIs) occur every day. The study aims to investigate the positive rate of specimen samples (urine/swab) for two common STDs, Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), and to analyze the correlation between infection rates of these pathogens across genders and different age groups at a large healthcare facility in Vietnam. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using real-time PCR (qPCR) data with multiplex primers to detect nucleic acids of CT-NG, collecting results from patients' first visits to University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City (UMC) from January 2022 to December 2023. Antibodies against Treponema pallidum (TPHA) and HIV (HIVAb) were qualitatively assessed using the sandwich immunoassay principle for antigens/antibodies. Results: Of 2,674 cases, the rate of single infections was 23.7%, while the co-infection rate with both pathogens was approximately six times lower (3.4%). There were 455 positive cases for CT (17.2%) and 359 positive cases for NG (13.4%) out of the total samples. The rate of CT infection varied across age groups, with the highest rate in the young age group (≤24 years) at 24.4%. Meanwhile, the rate of positive NG infection showed a difference by gender, being 2.3 times higher in males (PR = 2.3, 95% CI: 1.86 – 3.13) compared to females. The results suggest that STD intervention programs may need to focus more on young male populations. Among the 724 cases positive for CT and/or NG, 195 cases were tested for TPHA, with 5 cases positive for TPHA (2.6%), and 229 cases were tested for HIVAb, with 2 cases confirmed positive for HIVAb (0.9%). Conclusion: The study conducted at a major hospital in Ho Chi Minh City revealed infection rates of CT (17.2%) and NG (13.4%), with a high prevalence among young men. The data aim to provide critical evidence to support the development of strategies for controlling and preventing STDs in Vietnam in the upcoming period. Multiplex real-time PCR for diagnosing infectious agents is highly useful for simultaneously detecting multiple pathogens, allowing patients and healthcare providers to identify causes early, thus saving time and healthcare costs.