The critical relationship between vaginal microecology and Ureaplasma urealyticum: a retrospective study

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.