Micro-biota of vaginal infection among women in the reproductive age group: a hospital-based study

ABSTRACT

To study the prevalence of micro-organisms causing vaginal infection in women of child bearing age attending the Obstetrics and Gynecology Outpatient Department. This study was done with 479 patients in the age group of 15-45 years attending the Obstetrics and Gynecology OPD of Gulf Medical College Hospital, Ajman with various gynecological complains between January 2010 to December 2011. Sociodemographic details along with their reproductive history were recorded from the medical records. Vaginal swabs were taken from the patients irrespective of their marital status and sent for smear examination and culture identification. The presence of concomitant diseases in these patients was also recorded. Out of 479 patients studied, 50% were Asians followed by Middle East and African patients [47%] and Caucasians [3%]. Ninety percent of the patients were in the age group of 20-40 years. Eighty three percent were married and had children and the rest did not have any children. The majority of the women complained of vaginal discharge [83%], pruritus vulvae [45%], dysuria [18%], abdominal pain [16%] and vulvo vaginitis [5%]. Microbiology reports revealed normal flora in 29% of the specimens collected. The most common organism found was Candida species [51%] among the specimens. Bacterial infection was found in 36% cases, of which Gram negative cocci [Gonococci] were more prevalent than Gram positive cocci [Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species; 18%]. The incidence of Gram negative bacilli was 7% and that of the flagellates belonging to Trichomonas species was 13.5%. Diabetes mellitus and hypertension were present in 9.4% and 3.3% patients respectively which did not show any correlation with the microbial flora. The vaginal infection was identified in 71% women in their reproductive age with or without disease symptoms. It is recommended that all women should get a periodic checkdone for any asymptomatic infection