Detection of human papilloma virus in women attending the IRCCS, Ospedale oncologico Bari, Southern Italy: preliminary data.

We investigated the diffusion of HPV genotypes using molecular methods. HPV DNA was detected in 30.4% of women examined. The genotype HPV 16 was the most common followed by HPV 31, HPV 51 and HPV 58. Mixed infections were observed in 30.4% of HPV positive women. The 66.7% of the lower age group (< 35 years) was HPV positive. HPV infection was associated with the presence of morphological abnormalities in 13.7% of the women examined. The presence of HPV DNA in women younger than 35 years is an indication for the implementation of sexually transmitted disease education in our area to prevent potentially dangerous infections.