A quantitative microbiological study of bacterial vaginosis.
A quantitative microbial study of vaginal secretions from 100 women with bacterial vaginosis (BV) and 50 healthy women matched for age, was undertaken. This was aimed at comparing the bacterial flora colonising the vagina of sexually active asymptomatic women with those with BV and correlating bacterial counts with presence of symptoms. Of the total 475 bacteria isolated anaerobes were predominant among controls and among patients aerobes and anaerobes had equal prevalences. The increased viable counts of all anaerobes (> 10(7) cfu/g) were related with symptoms. Mobiluncus mulieris could be isolated from one patient and Chlamydia trachomatis antigen was absent in all samples tested. Bacteroides, G. vaginalis and Ureaplasma urealyticum were found to be the most commonly occurring group in women with BV. Lactobacillus, and probably Coryneforms have a protective role in health, preventing disease.
Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh.
S
S
Roy
M
M
Sharma
A
A
Ayyagari
S
S
Malhotra
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology*