Microbiology of the Female Genital Tract during Pregnancy and Parturition

Abstract

Microbiology of the female genital tract during pregnancy and parturition. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 14:81-85, 1976. To study the pattern of vaginal flora during pregnancy and parturition, high vaginal cultures were taken from three groups of women: (1) cultures were taken from 42 pregnant women during routine antenatal visits; (2) in 111 women admitted in labour, vaginal cultures were obtained upon admission, prior to delivery, just after completion of delivery and on the first and second postpartum day, and; (3) cultures were obtained from 55 normal non-pregnant women. The type of microbial inhabitants of the female genital tract in the antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum periods did not differ from the vaginal flora found in the normal non-pregnant condition. Pathogenic and opportunist organisms increased in frequency during labour and through the postpartum period. Lactobacillus, fungi and Staph, albus were the only organisms showing a decrease during the intrapartum and postpartum period. They were also the only organisms which were more frequently cultured in pregnant than in non-pregnant women. The pattern of change in the presence of organisms in the vagina was analysed according to length of labour. Length of labour appeared to have little effect on the probability of any organism gaining entrance into the vagina.

Genital Flora during Pregnancy and Colonization of the Newborn

“…There have been several studies dealing with the isolation of microorganisms from the lower genital tract on one occasion only during the antenatal period (de Louvois et al 1975, Naderi et al 1976), but relatively little information is available regarding the microbial flora at various times during pregnancy, except on fairly small groups of patients (Slotnick et al 1963, White & Koontz 1968, Mackay et al 1977. This report, which is derived from a continuing larger clinicopathological study, describes a longitudinal survey-of the maternal lower genital tract flora in over 100 women at three stages in pregnancy and once postnatally.…”