ABSTRACT
Different brands of vaginal tampons varied significantly (p less than 0.0001) in their anti-bacterial effects when tested with 46 strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Gonococcal strains recovered from patients with disseminated infections were substantially more sensitive to the anti-bacterial effects of tampons than were strains from patients with uncomplicated genital infections. Strains from patients with pelvic inflammatory disease were moderately sensitive. Tampons showing strong in-vitro antigonococcal effects were also generally effective in vivo in eliminating gonococcal infections from subcutaneous chambers in mice. Extracts of the Rely tampon showed no in-vitro antigonococcal effect, however, but did induce antibacterial activity when injected into subcutaneous chambers in mice. These results emphasise the importance of both in-vitro as well as in-vivo testing of tampon materials to elucidate more fully the nature of their antibacterial effects and their potential for affecting vaginal pathogens and disease processes.
Subject(s)
Gonorrhea/prevention & control , Menstrual Hygiene Products , Vagina/microbiology , Animals , Female , Genital Diseases, Female/microbiology , Gonorrhea/microbiology , Humans , Mice , Mice, Inbred ICR , Neisseria gonorrhoeae/growth & development , Pelvic Inflammatory Disease/microbiologyABSTRACT
Six components used in vaginal tampons were tested for their effects on a strain of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated from a patient with disseminated infection. Tampon components containing carboxymethyl cellulose or its derivative prolonged the in-vitro survival of gonococci and, when injected with mucin into mice, significantly (P less than 0.0001) increased the dissemination of gonococci from the peritoneal cavity. In contrast, a component extracted from rayon tampons reduced in-vitro survival and appeared to suppress gonococcal dissemination in mice. Since tampons are used by a large number of women at a time when the risk of developing complications from venereal infections are increased, their effects on potential urogenital pathogens warrant further study.
Subject(s)
Menstrual Hygiene Products , Neisseria gonorrhoeae/growth & development , Textiles , Animals , Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium/pharmacology , Cellulose/pharmacology , Female , Gonorrhea/prevention & control , Humans , Mice , Neisseria gonorrhoeae/drug effects , Sepsis/prevention & controlABSTRACT
Standard and experimental tests were used by a reference diagnostic laboratory to determine the identity of 182 "suspected" Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates submitted by state health departments because of inconclusive laboratory results. More than 97% of these cultures were subsequently identified by a rapid microcarbohydrate test in conjunction with confirmatory immunological procedures. The experimental rapid slide agglutination test using rough-lipopolysaccharide antibody, the Phadebact co-agglutination test, and fluorescent antibody test identified 49.3 to 94.1% of these cultures. Because of frequent problems with carbohydrate utilization, Neisseria meningitidis and Branhamella catarrhalis were the two microorganisms most often confused with N. gonorrhoeae by submitting laboratories.