Quantitative Bacteriology of the Vaginal Flora

Bartlett, John G.; Onderdonk, Andrew B.; Drude, Ellen; Goldstein, C.; Anderka, Marlene; Alpert, Susan; McCormack, William M.

doi:10.1093/infdis/136.2.271

Cited by 287 publications

(96 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…The incidence of the traditional aerobic components (lactobacilli, streptococci and coagulase-negative staphylococci) was not directly affected by the presence or absence of anaerobes. Very similar results on the dominance of anaerobes in the vaginal flora were obtained by Bartlett et al (1977) who found the mean concentrations of aerobes and anaerobes in 52 specimens from 22 healthy women to be 8-1 and 9.1 loglo cfu/ml of secretion. Recent qualitative studies using anaerobic techniques have also shown high isolation rates of anaerobes (Hill, 1980;Larsen and Galask, 1982).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

Quantitative Bacteriology of the Vaginal Flora in Genital Disease

Wilks

Thin

Tabaqchali

1984

Journal of Medical Microbiology

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

Quantitative Bacteriology of the Vaginal Flora in Genital Disease

Wilks

Thin

Tabaqchali

1984

Journal of Medical Microbiology

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“…Bartlett et al (1977) detected relatively consistent mean levels of anaerobes and a significant decrease in concentrations of aerobes in premenstrual specimens from five women compared with those in the specimens collected in the week following onset of menstruation. However the converse effect was noted in a recent semiquantitative study of 15 volunteers in whom it was found that aerobic bacteria remained relatively consistent during the sampling times but there was marked variation in the concentration of anaerobic gram-positive bacilli, mainly lactobacilli.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 66%

Quantitative bacteriology of the vaginal flora during the menstrual cycle

Wilks

Tabaqchali²

1987

Journal of Medical Microbiology

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Summary. The vaginal bacteriology of 10 healthy asymptomatic women was assessed during the menstrual cycle. Samples were taken from the posterior vaginal fornix for quantitative analysis. There were no significant alterations in the total vaginal flora at different stages of the menstrual cycle. The mean number of species isolated per specimen declined from 4.6 in week 1 to 2-9 in week 4. This decline was not caused by a decrease in the occurrence or concentration of any one organism or group of organisms. The vaginal pH decreased from a mean of 6.6 in week 1 to 4-3 in week 4, this increased acidity could not be attributed to the action of lactobacilli as their total incidence or concentration did not change during the menstrual cycle.

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“…Vaginal swab samples were collected by using the duplicate swab sampling technique for quantitative and qualitative microbiology (7). Briefly, the study nurse inserted two sterile cotton swabs simultaneously into the vaginal vault.…”

Section: Subjectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Both swabs were transported to the microbiology laboratory for processing within 2 h. The preweighed swab and tube were reweighed, and the difference between the final weight (of swab and tube together) and the preswab weight (of swab and tube together) was recorded as the sample weight. This method has been validated for obtaining sample weight in previous studies (6,7,43). Two additional samples were obtained with sterile cotton swabs: one was used for measuring pH, making a smear for Nugent scoring, and detection of volatile amines, and the other swab was used for Trichomonas culture.…”

Section: Subjectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantitative Microbiologic Models for Preterm Delivery

et al. 2003

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Preterm delivery (PTD) is the leading cause of infant morbidity and mortality in the United States. An epidemiological association between PTD and various bacteria that are part of the vaginal microflora has been reported. No single bacterial species has been identified as being causally associated with PTD, suggesting a multifactorial etiology. Quantitative microbiologic cultures have been used previously to define normal vaginal microflora in a predictive model. These techniques have been applied to vaginal swab cultures from pregnant women in an effort to develop predictive microbiologic models for PTD. Logistic regression analysis with microbiologic information was performed for various risk groups, and the probability of a PTD was calculated for each subject. Four predictive models were generated by using the quantitative microbiologic data. The area under the curve (AUC) for the receiver operating curves ranged from 0.74 to 0.94, with confidence intervals (CI) ranging from 0.62 to 1. The model for the previous PTD risk group with the highest percentage of PTDs had an AUC of 0.91 (CI, 0.79 to 1). It may be possible to predict PTD by using microbiologic risk factors measured once the gestation period has reached the 20-week time point.The complex microflora of the human vagina is thought to play an important role in both health and disease. Although a great deal of quantitative and qualitative data describing the vaginal microflora are available, it is only recently that statistical models defining normal vaginal microflora have been developed (33). It has also been possible to predict, on the basis of these quantitative microbiologic models, when the vaginal microflora is abnormal (50, 51). Part of the modeling process is to identify microbial risk factors, such as an abnormal vaginal microflora (i.e., vaginal candidiasis or bacterial vaginosis [BV]), that are associated with a specific outcome. The application of these predictive statistical modeling techniques, using microbiologic data, to other outcomes such as preterm births is appealing because women at risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes might then be identified early during their pregnancies. Early identification of women at high risk for an adverse outcome would allow for interventional therapy to be directed only at such women.Preterm delivery (PTD) is the leading cause of infant morbidity and mortality in the United States (2, 12, 19). Preterm labor, premature rupture of membranes, and low birth weight have been associated with either specific maternal genital tract infections or an altered vaginal microflora during pregnancy (1,8,35,37,47,48). Because bacteria are thought to contribute to PTD, substances of bacterial origin thought to act as mediators of PTD have been sought. Organisms implicated in PTD include specific agents, such as Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, and Bacteroides and yeast species (13,30,32,33,54,55). A constellation of organisms representative of those associated with BV have also been cited as having the poten...

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Quantitative Bacteriology of the Vaginal Flora

Cited by 287 publications

References 7 publications

Quantitative Bacteriology of the Vaginal Flora in Genital Disease

Quantitative Bacteriology of the Vaginal Flora in Genital Disease

Quantitative bacteriology of the vaginal flora during the menstrual cycle

Quantitative Microbiologic Models for Preterm Delivery

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