[Investigation of the situation of vaginal microflora in healthy women population].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the distribution of vaginal microflora in healthy women and investigate their cognition of lower reproductive tract infection-related knowledge as well as personal hygiene habits and character of behavior in seeking medical treatment.


METHODS
Total of 1660 healthy women who had physical check-ups at the Medical Center of Renji Hospital were selected and received gynecologic examination, as well as routine examination, pH examination and bacterial culture of the vaginal discharge. In addition, 860 of them were randomly selected for questionnaire survey, in which reproductive tract infection -related knowledge and personal hygiene habits as well as behavior in seeking medical treatment were involved.


RESULTS
Among the 1660 censused women, vaginal average pH was 4. 16 +/- 0.21. The positive rate of Candida in vaginal discharge routine examination was 3.86% (64/1660), which was lower than that in aerobes culture 7.71% (128/1660). Candida albicans was the most populous species 78.9% (101/128), followed by 7.8% (10/128) and 7.0% (9/128) for the Candida glabrata and Candida krusei respectively. The most populous species of vaginal microflora were hemolytic streptococcus A (63.80%, 1059/1660), Staphylococcus epidermidis (14.28%, 237/1660), and Enterococcus faecalis (D) group (11.44%, 190/1660). The questionnaire survey showed that 88.4% (760/860) of 860 women took active treatment when feeling unwell, 92.1% (792/860) of them had good hygiene practices, and only 21.2% (182/860) had the habit of vaginal douching. In addition, 50.0% (430/860) of them had the desire to obtain reproductive health knowledge through out-patient consultation.


CONCLUSIONS
Vulvovaginal Candida disease ranks the first in all types of vaginitis, among which, Candida albicans is the most populous species followed by the Candida glabrata and Candida krusei. Hemolytic streptococcus A and Staphylococcus epidermidis are the most common species of vaginal microflora in healthy women. The censused women have high awareness of reproductive health care and pay much attention to common gynecologic diseases such as lower reproductive tract infection. Nevertheless, we should strengthen the public education of reproductive health-related knowledge.
Ji
Fang
F
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai 200001, China.
Zhang
Ning
N
Di
Wen
W
Liao
Qin-ping
QP
Wang
Wen
W
Zhao
Xiao-ming
XM
Sun
Yun
Y
Liu
Zhao-hui
ZH
D000328:Adult; D012634:Bodily Secretions / Q000382:microbiology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000453:epidemiology; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008875:Middle Aged; D010808:Physical Examination; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology*; D019522:Vaginal Discharge / Q000382:microbiology; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult