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Modulation effect of vaginal mucosal microflora and susceptibility to Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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Abstract

Objective

The vaginal microbiota may modulate susceptibility to Neisseria gonorrhea (NG) infections. The objective of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the association between these NG infections and the vaginal microbiota.

Method

A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the correlation of vaginal microbiota and NG risk. Primary sources of the reviewed studies were from inception through December 2018. Vaginal mucosa microflora were dichotomized into high-Lactobacillus vaginal microbiota and low-Lactobacillus vaginal microbiota (LL-VMB), using either Nugent score, Amsel’s criteria, presence of clue cells or 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

Results

A total of 8 studies qualified for inclusion in this meta-analysis. LL-VMB could be regarded as worse prognostic factor, and the pooled OR was 1.33 (95% CI 1.02, 1.73; P = 0.04, I2 = 44%). LL-VMB was associated with a significantly higher susceptibility of NG. Trend for the sensitive analysis was consistence with the primary outcome. Significant publication bias was not detected by the funnel plot.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the systematic review and meta-analysis has demonstrated that LL-VMB was significantly associated with a high NG susceptibility.

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Funding

This study was funded by Exploration on Comprehensive Prevention and Treatment of Syphilis in Guangzhou (20181A031003).

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Author notes

  1. Jingxin Zeng and Ridong Yang contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Guangzhou Institute of Dermatology, Guangzhou Medical University, No. 56 Hengfu Road, Guangzhou, 510095, People’s Republic of China

    Jingxin Zeng, Ridong Yang, Wanping He, Xuelian Zhong, Weiyu Liu, Huilan Zhu, Xibao Zhang & Quan Luo

Authors
  1. Jingxin Zeng
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  2. Ridong Yang
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  3. Wanping He
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  4. Xuelian Zhong
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  5. Weiyu Liu
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  6. Huilan Zhu
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  7. Xibao Zhang
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  8. Quan Luo
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Contributions

JZ: Data collection, data analysis. RY: Data collection, data analysis. WH: Manuscript writing. XZ: Data collection, data analysis. WL: Manuscript writing. HZ: Data collection, data analysis. XZ: Manuscript writing. QL: Supervisor, Manuscript writing.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Quan Luo.

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The author declares that there is no competing interest.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Zeng, J., Yang, R., He, W. et al. Modulation effect of vaginal mucosal microflora and susceptibility to Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Gynecol Obstet 300, 261–267 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-019-05200-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-019-05200-1

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