Abstract
Microbial infections of the vagina in pregnant women are health problems that lead to serious medical complications and consequences. This study aimed to investigate and determine antimicrobial susceptibilities of the causative agents of vaginal infections in pregnant women. A cross-sectional study of pregnant women (n = 200) was conducted between August and December 2008 at Omdurman Maternity Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan. Vaginal and cervical swabs were obtained from each subject and processed for isolation and identification of pathogenic microorganisms using standard methods of wet mount preparation, direct Gram smear, Nugent scoring system, direct immunofluorescence, and cultural techniques. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of bacterial isolates was performed using standard procedures. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS program version 12.0.1. A p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Of the 200 pregnant women enrolled, BV was detected in 49.8%, followed by Chlamydia trachomatis (31.3%) and Candida albicans (16.6%), with low frequencies of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (1.8%) and Trichomonas vaginalis (0.5%). Higher infection rates were recorded among subjects in the third trimester (71.6%) than in the second trimester of gestation (28.4%). No significant association (p = 0.7) between history of abortions and C. trachomatis infections was found. Gentamicin was the most active agent against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Clarythromycin was the most active against Mycoplasma species. Pregnant women with vaginal complaints revealed various positive microbiology results. Such cases may require specific medication. Routine culture of vaginal and cervical samples should be performed on all pregnant women during prenatal visits.
Highlights
Microbial infections of the vagina in pregnant women are health problems that lead to serious medical complications and consequences
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) has been found in 17.2% of subjects, candidiasis in 10.1%, trichomoniasis in 7.7%, gonorrhoeae in 1.2%, HIV in 1.2%, and syphilis in 0.9% of Sudanese women examined in the El Obeid region [8]
This study aimed to investigate the causative agents of vaginal infections and antimicrobial susceptibilities of the isolates from pregnant women at Omdurman Maternity Hospital in Khartoum, Sudan, using different laboratory techniques
Summary
Microbial infections of the vagina in pregnant women are health problems that lead to serious medical complications and consequences. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most frequent vaginal infection, characterized by the replacement of Lactobacillus species of normal vaginal flora by the excessive growth of a mixture of microorganisms including Gardnerella vaginalis, Bacteroides species, genital mycoplasma, and fastidious anaerobic bacteria [4]. Vaginal complaints such as BV, candidiasis, trichomoniasis, and Chlamydia trachomatis infections are common among women of reproductive age, with high incidences during pregnancy [5,6]. BV has been found in 17.2% of subjects, candidiasis in 10.1%, trichomoniasis in 7.7%, gonorrhoeae in 1.2%, HIV in 1.2%, and syphilis in 0.9% of Sudanese women examined in the El Obeid region [8]
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