title: Potential pathogens in the lower genital tract at manual vacuum aspiration for incomplete abortion in Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the carriage rates of potential pathogens in the lower genital tract and factors associated with colonization among women with incomplete abortion.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Manual Vacuum Aspiration room of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred women undergoing Manual Vacuum Aspiration at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eligible patients were screened for the presence of organisms in the lower genital tract by microscopy and culture of high vaginal and endocervical swabs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nearly two-thirds of the patients (64.2%) had potential pathogens in the lower genital tract. Bacterial vaginosis alone was present in 47% and a combination of bacterial vaginosis and Candida albicans was present in 17.2%. Residence in an urban slum showed a significant association with the presence of potential pathogens (Odds ratio 2.6; p-value 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Organisms responsible for bacterial vaginosis were the most frequently isolated potential pathogens in the cervical canal of patients with incomplete abortion at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. Management of these patients should therefore include antibiotic prophylaxis against bacterial vaginosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana.
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Lassey
authors.forename: K R M
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Adanu
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Opintah
mesh_terms: D000027:Abortion, Incomplete / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000009:adverse effects; D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000150:complications; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D002353:Carrier State / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D011204:Poverty Areas; D011247:Pregnancy; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014619:Vacuum Curettage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*