Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters (한국미생물·생명공학회지)

The Korean Society for Microbiology and Biotechnology (한국미생물·생명공학회)
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Laboratory Investigation of Sexually Transmitted Infections in the Elderly Population of South Korea

  • Oh, Eun Ju (Department of Medical Laser, Dankook University Graduate School of Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Jang Mook (Department of Health Administration, Dankook University College of Health Sciences) ;
  • Kim, Jae Kyung (Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, Dankook University College of Health Sciences)
  • Received : 2022.04.13
  • Accepted : 2022.06.03
  • Published : 2022.06.28
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Abstract

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.

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References

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