title: Maternal risk factors for abnormal vaginal flora during pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of abnormal vaginal flora during pregnancy and associated maternal risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was undertaken of cervicovaginal smears performed on pregnant women at a center in Turin, Italy, between 2000 and 2010. Patients were divided into three groups: women with symptoms of genital infections (G1), asymptomatic women at risk of preterm birth (G2), and asymptomatic women with no risk (G3). Logistic regression models identified variables associated with microorganisms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 11 219 samples, 4913 (43.8%) were positive, of which 3783 (77.0%) were positive for a single microorganism. Multivariate analysis for G1 showed positive associations between multiple sexual partners and bacterial vaginosis/Ureaplasma urealyticum, and multiparity with preterm birth and U. urealyticum (P<0.05 for all). In G2, there were significant associations between multiparity with preterm birth and bacterial vaginosis/aerobic vaginitis, and North African origin and bacterial vaginosis/U. urealyticum (P<0.05 for all). In G3, there were associations between little education (<8 years) and bacterial vaginosis/U. urealyticum, multiple sexual partners and bacterial vaginosis/U. urealyticum, and bacterial vaginosis and Eastern European origin and not being married (P<0.05 for all).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Positive cervicovaginal smears were associated with a particular profile. Testing could be advisable for symptomatic women at any stage of pregnancy, during the first trimester for asymptomatic women at risk of preterm birth, and for some asymptomatic women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Turin, Città della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy. Electronic address: ceciliatibaldi@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tibaldi
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Pediatric Science, Medical Statistics Unit, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Nazario
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cappello
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Unit of Bacteriology, Città della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Latino
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Turin, Città della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Polarolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Turin, Città della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Masuelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Pediatric Science, Medical Statistics Unit, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cavallo
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Turin, Città della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Benedetto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016869:Ureaplasma Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016990:Ureaplasma urealyticum / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Bacterial vaginosis; Pregnancy; Sexual behavior; Sexually transmitted infection; Vaginal flora