Frequency and antimicrobial susceptibility of aerobic bacterial vaginal isolates.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequency and antimicrobial susceptibility of aerobic bacterial isolates from high vaginal swab cultures.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, from January 2003 to February 2004.


METHODS
The subjects included 136 symptomatic women attending Obstetrics and Gynecology Out-Patient Department. A proforma was filled to document the demographic details, presenting complaint and examination findings. High vaginal swabs were taken for gram staining, culture and antimicrobial sensitivity testing using standard microbiologic techniques.


RESULTS
Normal flora was isolated in 30% of the cases, followed by Candida spp. (21.3%), Enterococcus spp. (14.7%), E.coli (10.2%), Beta hemolytic Streptococcus spp. (7.3%), Staphylococcus spp. (4.4%), Enterobacter spp. (4.4%), while Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Klebsiella spp. were isolated 1.5% each. Enterococcus, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus were mostly sensitive to penicillin and amoxicillin while E.coli and Klebsiella were sensitive to (piperacillin-Tazobactum, Imipenem and vancomycin. Enterococci species showed significant resistance to aminoglycoside antibiotics (68.8% to 81.3%) resistance to vancomycin was 5%.


CONCLUSIONS
Thirty percent of symptomatic patients had normal flora on culture. Candida spp was the most frequent pathogen isolated. Co-amoxiclav should be used as empiric therapy until culture-sensitivity report is available.
Tariq
Nabia
N
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad. nabiatariq-fcps@yahoo.com
Jaffery
Tara
T
Ayub
Rukhsana
R
Alam
Ali Yawar
AY
Javid
Mahmud Haider
MH
Shafique
Shamsa
S
D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002175:Candida / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007434:Intrauterine Devices; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology*; D019522:Vaginal Discharge / Q000382:microbiology*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents