Quantitative microbiology of human vulva

Abstract

The microbial flora of the vulva is described and compared with the flora of the forearm by utilizing the detergent scrub method. Microbial counts were higher on the vulva (2.8 x 10(6)/cm2) than on the forearm (6.4 x 10(2)/cm2). Lipophilic diphtheroids, coagulase negative staphylococci, micrococci, non-lipophilic diphtheroids and lactobacilli formed the dominant flora of the vulva. Streptococci, Gram negative rods and yeasts were also noted. The highest incidence of S. aureus was noted on the vulva (67%) followed by perianal (30%), nose (30%), and the forearm (11%).

Quantitative Bacteriology of the Vaginal Flora in Genital Disease

“…There is some evidence suggesting that most women harbour S. aureus in the vagina but that colonisation is only transient (Brown, 1982). It may be introduced into the vagina from the vulva where the carriage rate of S. aureus was found to be 67% in a recent study (Aly, Britz and Maibach, 1979). We have obtained some qualitative evidence in support of this (Wilks, Symonds and Tabaqchali, unpublished observations).…”

Preliminary characterization of the normal microbiota of the human vulva using cultivation-independent methods

“…As was found in culture-dependent studies (Aly et al, 1979;Elsner & Maibach, 1990), the microbiota of the labia majora included species found on skin, such as Staphylococcus epidermidis and Corynebacterium spp. In addition, we found populations that were probably of faecal origin, such as Enterococcus faecalis.…”

“…Previous culture-dependent studies of the vulva have shown that micrococci, a-and b-haemolytic streptococci, lipophilic diphtheroids, non-lipophylic diphtheroids, bacilli, lactobacilli, Gram-negative and Gram-positive rods, and both S. aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci are present (Aly et al, 1979;Elsner & Maibach, 1990). Sequences with similarity to representatives from each of these groups of organisms were also found in our study, with the notable exception of S. aureus.…”

“…The microbiota of the labia majora is characterized by micro-organisms that are either related to vaginal and urethral inhabitants (such as Lactobacillus spp.) or are common for intertriginous skin, including Gram-negative rods, non-pathogenic Neisseria, Gardnerella vaginalis and Staphylococcus aureus (Aly et al, 1979;Elsner & Maibach, 1990). Technical difficulties in the isolation of bacteria have confounded efforts to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the organisms present in various anatomical locations on the human body (Berg, 1999;Henderson et al, 1998; Hooper et al, 2001;Pace, 1997;Rappe & Giovannoni, 2003;Tlaskalová-Hogenová et al, 2004).…”

Site‐Specific Prevalence and Cell Densities of Selected Microbesin the Lower Reproductive Tract of Menstruating Tampon Users

“…Cell densities of C. albicans in the present study were lower than has been reported previously 32 . The vulva is the preferred genital carriage site of S. aureus 33,34 , with reported prevalence rates as high as 67% 33 . There is a statistical association between vulvar and vaginal carriage of this organism 7,21 but, using traditional culturing techniques, S. aureus is recovered only sporadically from the vagina and is more consistently found there during menstruation 16,17,26,27,35 .…”