Abstract
BACKGROUND: Vaginal microecology can reveal the health of the female reproductive tract directly. Female vaginal microecology reflects the state of female reproductive tract health. This study aimed to utilize a variety of female vaginal microecological indicators to comprehensively assess the relationship between the level of vaginal microecological health and Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) infection in women. METHODS: A total of 408 participants were included in this study, including 144 UU-positive and 264 UU-negative individuals. Clinical information of the participants was collected, and vaginal microecological indicators (cleanliness, hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), leukocyte esterase (LEU), sialidase (SNA), N-acetyl glucosidase (NAG), and β-glucuronidase (GUS)) were tested. The measurement data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (x ± s), and the comparison of data between groups was performed using a t-test; count data were expressed as the number of cases (percentage) (n[%]), and the data between groups were compared using the chi-square test. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression model analyses explored the factors modifying infection with UU. RESULTS: UU-positive patients exhibited higher rates of cleanliness positivity, H(2)O(2) positivity, LEU positivity, SNA positivity, NAG positivity, and GUS compared to UU negative patients (P < 0.05) . The univariate logistic regression model found that cleanliness, H(2)O(2), LEU, SNA, NAG, and GUS were risk factors for UU infection in women (Cleanliness: odds ratio [OR] = 4.30, 95% confidence interval [CI] [2.79-6.63]); H(2)O(2): OR = 9.01, 95% CI [5.33-15.23]; LEU: OR = 1.88, 95% CI [1.22-2.91]; s SNA: OR = 5.53, 95% CI [2.73-11.19]; NAG: OR = 2.41, 95% CI [1.35-4.30]; and GUS: OR = 1.95, 95% CI [1.21-3.15]) . The multivariate logistic regression model found that the independent risk factors for UU infection in patients were cleanliness (OR = 3.00, 95% CI [1.66-5.43]) and H(2)O(2) (OR = 7.24, 95% CI [4.19-12.51]). CONCLUSIONS: Vaginal cleanliness and H(2)O(2) abnormalities are risk factors for UU infections in women. Therefore, female UU infections can be prevented by maintaining vaginal microecology.