Detection of Urogenital Mycoplasmas using Culture and PCR: a Descriptive Pilot Study

摘要

Mycoplasmas, as human urogenital tract pathogens, are associated with infections, reproductive failures and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Several methods have been used to detect genitourinary Mycoplasmas, each having their own limitations, advantages and disadvantages. In the present study, we used microbial culture and PCR to detect Mycoplasmas in urogenital specimens with the aim of comparing detection rate, sensitivity and specificity of the two methods. In this study, 30 urogenital samples including 17 vaginal swabs, 7 male urine and 6 female urine samples were collected from patients referring to hospitals regardless of their disease and studied for Mycoplasmas by culture (using two media: PPLO broth and PPLO agar) and PCR. Of the total 30 specimens, Mycoplasmas were detected in 14 PPLO broth medium, 11 PPLO agar medium and 11 PCR sample reactions. Accordingly, the sensitivity and specificity of the PCR method was determined 100 and 95% respectively while culture was found to have a sensitivity of 77% and specificity of 66%. We found PCR based on 16S rRNA sequences to be highly sensitive and specific offering a rapid, easy and cost benefit method for detection of Mycoplasmas in comparison to microbial culture method.