Prevalence of Bacterial Vaginosis, Characterization of Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolates and Patterns of Antimicrobial Test From Women Vaginal Fluid in Addis Ababa
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Date
2008-08
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The human vagina is a complex integrated environment containing an abundance
of microorganism. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a disorder characterized by a reduction in
or absence of Lactobacillus colonization, and overgrowth of several facultative and
obligate anaerobic bacteria. BV has been reported as one of the most common vaginal
infections in women at reproductive age from different part of the world. This study was
conducted to evaluate the prevalence of BV and some associated risk factors in Addis
Ababa. Moreover the study examined the composition of lactic acid bacteria (LAB)
genera isolated form vaginal specimen culture and the antimicrobial sensitivity pattern of
some of the isolated LAB. Among 100 women randomly enrolled in this study a BV
prevalence of 32% was found based on Gram-stain scoring of vaginal flora according to
Nugent criteria. The prevalence of BV was higher among women at age group 31-40
(44%), Christian women (34%), who are married (33%), non-pregnant (34%) and women
who had a previous history of abortion (37%). Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were isolated
from 70% of women. Out of 350 colonies which were isolated and characterized, 40%
were lactococci, 29% were lactobacilli, 23% were pediococci and 8% were leucnostoc.
From a total of 60 lactic acid bacteria isolates that were subjected to antimicrobial
activity test, both the most frequent resistance and the least sensitivity result was noted
for Clindamycin (42% and 50% respectively), where as the most frequent sensitivity and
the least resistance was recorded for Vancomicine (80% and 20% respectively). This
study has provided evidence for a considerable prevalence of BV in women. Therefore,
the health sector and other responsible bodies should give the concern to screening and
treating women for bacterial vaginosis. On top of that creating the awareness among the
society will add its value on the public health profile of women and probably would
contribute to reduce the risk of acquisition of other more serious STDs. Moreover, the
knowledge of lactic acid bacteria composition and pattern of antimicrobial activities of
human vaginal fluid would help to design better therapies and show future directions to
maintain the healthy nature of human vaginal ecosystem.
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Biology