Influence of group B streptococcus and vaginal cleanliness on the vaginal microbiome of pregnant women

Abstract

BACKGROUND The vaginal microbiome plays a critical role in the health of pregnant women and their newborns. Group B Streptococcus (GBS) and vaginal cleanliness significantly affect the vaginal microecosystem and are closely associated with vaginal diseases. AIM To explore the effects of GBS status and vaginal cleanliness on vaginal microecosystems. METHODS We collected 160 vaginal swabs from pregnant women and divided them into the following four groups based on GBS status and vaginal cleanliness: GBS-positive + vaginal cleanliness I–II degree, GBS-negative + vaginal cleanliness I–II degree, GBS-positive + vaginal cleanliness III–IV degree, and GBS-negative + vaginal cleanliness III–IV degree. Samples were subjected to 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. RESULTS Alpha diversity analysis showed that the Shannon index did not significantly differ between the four groups. We identified significant variation in taxa abundance between the GBS-positive and GBS-negative groups and between the vaginal cleanliness I–II degree and III–IV degree groups. Principal coordinate analysis and non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis further confirmed the microbial diversity of the four groups. Moreover, the linear discriminant analysis demonstrated that Lactobacillus jensenii and Actinobacteria were strongly associated with GBS-positive status, and Lactobacillus iners , Lactobacillaceae , Lactobacillus , Lactobacillales , Bacilli and Firmicutes were closely correlated with GBS-negative status. CONCLUSION GBS status and vaginal cleanliness significantly affect vaginal microbiome differences in pregnant women. Our findings provide instructional information for clinical antibiotic treatment in pregnant women with different GBS statuses and vaginal cleanliness degrees.

Vaginal microbes confounders and implications on women's health

“…We read with interest Liao et al 's study[ 1 ] published in World J Clin Cases that discusses the influence of vaginal microbes (Vm) on pregnant women's health and how the integrity of the vaginal ecosystem is maintained by a delicate balance of vaginal sanitation and group B streptococcus status[ 1 ].…”

“…Studying the Vm has many implications for obstetrical and gynecological diseases in women. Earlier work has examined confounders that can affect Vm, which was not discussed in Liao et al’s study[ 1 ], including; women's age, race, pregnancy and gestational age at sampling, smoking, and sexual activity[ 2 - 4 ].…”