An Observational Study on the Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections in Cheonan from 2017 to 2021

Abstract

Although the global incidence of sexually transmitted infections is increasing annually, there are few studies in Cheonan that have analyzed the frequency of infection by individual bacterial species by age since 2017. Therefore, in this observational study, we investigated trends in sexually transmitted infections in Cheonan, South Korea, since 2017. From January 2017 to November 2021, 3,297 specimens were obtained from patients who visited the Dankook University Hospital (Cheonan, South Korea) for STI screening. All collected data (obtained from men and women aged 0-93 years) were used. This study used diagnostic test data from medical institutions and did not use patients' personal information, so the requirement for prior consent was waived. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction, the most efficient diagnostic method with high sensitivity and specificity for the detection of bacteria, was performed using an MJ Research PTC-200 Thermal Cycler (Marshall Scientific, Richmond, VA, USA) and the Seeplex STD Detection Kit (Seegene, Seoul, South Korea). Using molecular diagnostics, sexually transmitted pathogens were detected in 1,017 samples. When the positivity rate was classified according to age, STIs were found to be more common among younger women (56%). When the positivity rate for each pathogen was classified according to sex, the patterns seen in male and female patients were different. Additionally, the prevalence of STIs has increased overall, from 27% in 2017 to 34% in 2021. This is consistent with the global trend of increasing incidence of STIs every year and the results of our study conducted in Cheonan and emphasized the importance of early and regular STI screening. It also highlights the importance of proactive measures such as education, prevention efforts, and improved access to healthcare to effectively respond to the increasing STI prevalence pattern in Cheonan.