The Underestimated Prevalence of Ureaplasma Infections: A Comprehensive Epidemiological Study in South Korea (2018-2020)

Abstract

Ureaplasma infections are frequently underestimated due to potential inaccuracies in data collection from symptomatic patients. This study aimed to accurately assess the prevalence of Ureaplasma Urealyticum (UU) and Ureaplasma Parvum (UP) infections among outpatients aged 0-70 years in South Korea between 2018 and 2020. A total of 59,381 clinical samples, including swabs and urine specimens, were collected and analyzed using multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction, for identifying UU and UP infections. The study revealed a significant prevalence of UU and UP infections, with 8,486 (14.2%) and 10,660 (17.9%) cases, respectively. The highest positive rates were observed among individuals aged 20-29 years. Notably, in women, infection rates with UP were substantially higher than with UU. Co-infections with both UU and UP were detected in 291 men and 612 women who tested positive for Ureaplasma infections. These findings underscore the elevated risk of Ureaplasma transmission in both adult and infant populations, highlighting the importance of understanding and addressing this often underestimated public health concern. This study contributes valuable data on Ureaplasma infections in the South Korean population, shedding light on their prevalence and distribution, which can further inform public health interventions.