Study on types of vaginitis and association between bacterial vaginosis and urinary tract infection in pregnant women

Abstract

Introduction: Infectious vaginitis which includes bacterial vaginosis (BV), vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and trichomoniasis are common disorder in women. Both vaginitis and urinary tract infection (UTI) during pregnancy have risk to lives of both the mother and fetus. Present study was done to assess type of vaginitis and to evaluate the risk of UTI in pregnant women with BV. Methods: Cross sectional descriptive study of 230 pregnant women was done from 1 st July to 30 th December 2010 at Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital Thapathali, Kathmandu, Nepal. Duplicate High Vaginal Swab and urine sample were collected from each patient. BV was diagnosed using Amsel’s criteria. VVC was determined by culture on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar and Candida albicans was identified by Germ tube test. Trichomoniasis was detected by observing motile trophozoites under microscope. Diagnosis of UTI was made when there were at least 10 5 organisms/ml of urine. Results: Out of 230 patients, 92 were positive for infectious vaginitis and 32 had UTI. Among 92 infected patients, BV and VVC were found in 36(39.13%) and 28(30.43%) respectively while mixed infection was found in 28(30.43%) of the infected patients. UTI was more than twice common among in pregnant women with BV than without it (p<0.05). Conclusion: Hence, BV was the most common vaginitis among pregnant women and women with BV are at increased risk for UTIs. We recommend all pregnant women during antenatal checkup should be screened for the presence of BV and UTI.