Hydrogen peroxide-producing Lactobacilli in the vaginal flora of pregnant women with preterm labor with intact membranes.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of vaginal infection in preterm delivery, we studied characteristics of vaginal discharge related to hydrogen peroxide-producing Lactobacilli.


METHODS
Vaginal specimens were obtained from 66 women with normal pregnancy and 30 women with preterm labor with intact membranes. pH, leukocyte counts on wet smear, and scores by Nugent criteria on Gram stain were measured. Lactobacilli were tested for their production of hydrogen peroxide.


RESULTS
Leukocyte levels in wet smears and Nugent scores of Gram-stained smear of women with preterm labor with intact membranes were significantly higher than those of normal pregnant women (P<0.01, P<0.05). Hydrogen peroxide-producing Lactobacilli levels in the vaginal flora of women with preterm labor with intact membranes were significantly lower (P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Distribution of hydrogen peroxide-producing Lactobacilli in vaginal flora as defense factors for infection may have an important role in the pathophysiology of preterm labor.
Kim
Y H
YH
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea. kimyh@chonnam.ac.kr
Kim
C H
CH
Cho
M K
MK
Na
J H
JH
Song
T B
TB
Oh
J S
JS
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D005260:Female; D005840:Gentian Violet; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000382:microbiology*; D010619:Phenazines; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000382:microbiology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D014621:Vagina / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology*; D019522:Vaginal Discharge / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology
C035863:Gram's stain; D010619:Phenazines; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D005840:Gentian Violet