title: Aerobic vaginal pathogens and their sensitivity pattern.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The vaginal flora is a complicated environment, containing dozens of microbiological species in variable quantities and relative proportions. The frequent cause of vaginal discharge is an infection or colonization with different microorganisms. Some pathologic conditions causing vaginitis are well defined yet, 7-72% of women with vaginitis may remain undiagnosed and such forms of abnormal vaginal flora neither considered as normal, nor can be called bacterial vaginosis have been termed as 'intermediate flora' and its management probably differ from that of bacterial vaginosis. It is of crucial importance in pregnant females at risk of preterm delivery. The present study has been conducted especially to elucidate this type of aerobic vaginal isolates and their culture and sensitivity towards currently used antibiotics. This study was conducted at the Microbiology Department of Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi over a period of two years (April 2004-March 2006).
  
  
  METHODS
  One thousand, nine hundred and twenty three high vaginal swabs, both from indoor and outdoor patients were collected, cultured and their susceptibility to various antibiotics was determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant growth was obtained in 731 samples. The highest frequency of infection (39.5%) was observed at 31-40 years followed by 41-50 years (35.8%). About 76% were from outdoor and 24% were from indoor patients. Staphylococcus aureus was the most prevalent vaginal pathogen at 11-60 yrs & with highest prevalence at 31-40 years followed by 41-50 years. It was a predominant pathogen in both indoor (35%) as well as outdoor (41.6%) patients, followed by enteric gram-negative bacilli and other gram-positive cocci. There were very few antibiotics among the conventionally available aminoglycosides, third generation cephalosporins, penicillin, quinolones, sulfonamides and tetracyclines possessing good sensitivity (> 80%) against any one the common aerobic vaginal pathogens. The effective chemotherapeutics agents belong to the groups of carbapenems and beta-lactams beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high prevalence of gynaecological infections demands that the patients with gynaecological symptoms be investigated thoroughly. Culture must invariably be done. Currently the antibiotics showing good sensitivity are very expensive. So there is a need for an effective antimicrobial policy. Effective drug should be reserved for the treatment of serious life threatening situations only.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Islamic International Medical College Trust, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Mumtaz_dr@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Shamim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mumtaz
authors.forename: Mumtaz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Irum
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aftab
authors.forename: Naeem
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Akhtar
authors.forename: Masood
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: ul Hassan
authors.forename: Abdul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hamid
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015780:Carbapenems / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014621:Vagina / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology*; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D055815:Young Adult; D047090:beta-Lactams / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D015780:Carbapenems; D047090:beta-Lactams