Relationship between lactobacilli and opportunistic bacterial pathogens associated with vaginitis

Abstract

Background:Vaginitis, is an infectious inflammation of the vaginal mucosa, which sometimes involves the vulva. The balance of the vaginal flora is maintained by the Lactobacilli and its protective and probiotic role in treating and preventing vaginal infection by producing antagonizing compounds which are regarded as safe for humans.Aim:The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective role of Lactobacilli against common bacterial opportunistic pathogens in vaginitis and study the effects of some antibiotics on Lactobacilli isolates.Materials and Methods:In this study (110) vaginal swabs were obtained from women suffering from vaginitis who admitted to Babylon Hospital of Maternity and Paediatrics in Babylon province, Iraq. The study involved the role of intrauterine device among married women with vaginitis and also involved isolation of opportunistic bacterial isolates among pregnant and non pregnant women. This study also involved studying probiotic role of Lactobacilli by production of some defense factors like hydrogen peroxide, bacteriocin, and lactic acid.Results:Results revealed that a total of 130 bacterial isolates were obtained. Intrauterine device was a predisposing factor for vaginitis. The most common opportunistic bacterial isolates were Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. All Lactobacilli were hydrogen peroxide producers while some isolates were bacteriocin producers that inhibited some of opportunistic pathogens (S. aureus, E. coli). Lactobacilli were sensitive to erythromycin while 93.3% of them were resistant to ciprofloxacin and (40%, 53.3%) of them were resistant to amoxicillin and gentamycin respectively. Results revealed that there was an inverse relationship between Lactobacilli presence and organisms causing vaginitis. This may be attributed to the production of defense factors by Lactobacilli.Conclusion:The types of antibiotics used to treat vaginitis must be very selective in order not to kill the beneficial bacteria (Lactobacilli) that help in preservation of vaginal health and ecosystem as being one of the probiotic bacteria.

The Threat of Aerobic Vaginitis to Pregnancy and Neonatal Morbidity

“…There is currently no standardized treatment for AV infected mothers to reduce the rate of adverse pregnancy outcomes 18 , although treatment during the second trimester of pregnancy has been advocated 10 . The effects of screening and treatment for abnormal vaginal microbiota in order to reduce preterm delivery (PTD) remain controversial 21 with low prevalence of AV reported in some studies 11,91 and others showing a very high prevalence 92,93 . Interventions to prevent pre-term birth have been largely ineffective 1,2 and may be attributed to both the increasing antimicrobial resistance amongst opportunistic pathogens which complicates adequate administration of prophylaxis and treatment as well as the often misdiagnosis of AV as BV, thus leading to treatment failures and thereby contributing to and increasing the risk of maternal and neonatal morbidity.…”

A study of aerobic bacterial pathogens associated with vaginitis in reproductive age group women (15-45 years) and their sensitivity pattern

“…7,19 80.77% of cases yielded monomicrobial growth whereas 19.23% yielded polymicrobial growth (two bacterial species in culture) which is in contrast to study done by Razzak et al, 2011 (Iraq) who observed 50 out of 105 cases (47.62%) as polymicrobial infections. 15 In this study, Enterococcus faecalis (32.26%) was the most prevalent organism isolated from AV cases followed by Escherichia coli (25.8%) and Staphylococcus aureus (22.6%). In a study by Khan and khan in Islamabad (2004), Enterococcus faecalis (31%) was the most frequently isolated aerobic vaginal pathogen.…”

“…Similar rates have been observed by Mumtaz et al 17 The isolation of K pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in AV cases was also reported by other researchers. 13,15,17 The gram positive organisms in this study showed more resistance to penicillin and ampicillin. Nearly 40 % of the Enterococcus isolates were resistant to penicillin and ampicillin whereas only 10% of them showed resistance to aminoglycosides which is in contrast to other studies.…”

Use of LAB to Control Urogenital Infections

“…L. jensenii and L. gasseri are two of the most common species present, as determined by culture-independent techniques [4]. Relationship between LAB and vaginal pathogen have been studied which indicates that antibiotic treatment should not kill healthy LAB to preserve healthy vagina [4].…”