In this population, we investigated the prevalence of oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in anogenital samples (vulvar/vaginal/perianal area and cervix) and compared the overall, type-specific and multiple infection prevalence between sites.
The ratio of mono-infection to multiple infection did not differ across the four sites (X = 1.2, p = 0.76).
In HPV-positive patients, multiple infection was highly prevalent at all three mucosal sites (Table 2 and 2).
Multiple infection results have indicated that HPV facilitates persistence at the site of infection, leading to an increased risk of premalignant lesions progressing to CC [ 24, 26].
To prevent possible bias in serological responses we excluded patients with a multiple site infection or mixed infection, and patients with an infection other than the urethral tract or cervicovaginal tract (n = 70).
Infection sites were categorized as pneumonia, peritonitis, urinary tract infection, exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, catheter-related infection, primary bacteremia (excluding untreated Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteremia), miscellaneous sites (mediastinitis, prostatitis, osteomyelitis, and others), or multiple sites [ 19].
Infection sites were categorised as follows: pneumonia, peritonitis, urinary tract infection, exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, primary bacteraemia (excluding untreated Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteraemia), miscellaneous sites (mediastinitis, prostatitis, osteomyelitis and others), and multiple sites.
These numbers include multiple infection.
*Patient may have multiple infection sources.
