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The relationship between the presence of HPV infection and biofilm formation in cervicovaginal smears

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Abstract

Purpose

To demonstrate and understand the association of HPV infection and biofilm formation.

Methods

The study consisted of cervicovaginal samples of 72 women who were evaluated at the colposcopy unit. Papanicolaou staining was used for cytological examination while “Crystal Violet Binding” assay was performed to detect biofilm formation.

Results

HPV-DNA was positive in 55.5% (n = 40) of the patients. The biofilm formation rate was statistically significantly higher in the HPV-positive women (45%) compared to HPV-negative women (21.9%) (P < 0.05). There was a statistically significant relationship between the presence of single HPV and “high-risk HPV” types and biofilm formation (P < 0.05). Biofilm formation was found in 80% of women with abnormal smear demonstrating atypical epithelial cells (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Biofilm formation is more frequent at the cervicovaginal microbiota of patients with HPV infection. This finding is especially important in cases with atypical epithelial cells at their cervicovaginal smears.

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Funding

There is no financial support for this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Hacettepe University, Beytepe, 06800, Ankara, Turkey

    Hanife Guler Donmez & Gulcan Sahal

  2. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey

    Utku Akgor, Murat Cagan, Nejat Ozgul & Mehmet Sinan Beksac

Authors
  1. Hanife Guler Donmez
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  2. Gulcan Sahal
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  3. Utku Akgor
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  4. Murat Cagan
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  5. Nejat Ozgul
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  6. Mehmet Sinan Beksac
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hanife Guler Donmez.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethics approval

The study was approved by the Hacettepe University Ethics Committee with reference number GO-18 908–09. The study was based in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

Consent to participate

Written informed consent was obtained from the patients.

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All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Donmez, H.G., Sahal, G., Akgor, U. et al. The relationship between the presence of HPV infection and biofilm formation in cervicovaginal smears. Infection 48, 735–740 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-020-01478-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-020-01478-5

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