Vaginal Infections’ Etiologies in South-Eastern Gabon – An Overview

Abstract

Introduction Discomfort in women of childbearing age associated with vaginal infections, namely bacterial vaginosis (BV), aerobic vaginitis (AV), vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), and trichomoniasis (TV), represent a serious and ongoing gynecological complication throughout the world. Objective This study aimed to investigate the etiologies of vaginal infections among outpatients in south-eastern Gabon. Methodology A cross-sectional study was designed using participants referred directly by their treating doctor for a vaginal swab. Socio-demographic data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Microscopic examinations were used for TV and BV diagnostic. All vaginal swabs were cultured for AV and VVC isolates using standard microbiology methods. Results A total of 573 women of reproductive age participated in the study. The most common identified vaginal infections were BV (62.8%) and AV (51.1%) followed by VVC (34.1%). No significant difference was observed for each etiology compared to socio-demographic data. Streptococcus B (23.9%), Staphylococcus aureus (17.7%), Klebsiella spp. (11.6%), and E. coli (5.8%) were the bacteria most associated with AV. A high incidence of non- C . albicans Candida (NCAC) strains causing vulvovaginitis were found. The prevalence of TV (2.1%) was low. Mixed infections had been common among participants. No association was found with TV and other vaginal infections, unlike others studies. The present study identified BV 228 (83.5%) and AV 227 (83.2%) as the main cause of mixed infections. The mixed infection AV-BV 113 (41.4%) was the most represented. Conclusion Also that simultaneous AV-BV-VVC represented 69 (25.3%) of mixed infections. Molecular analyses would be needed to identify the key species commonly associated with these vaginal infections.

Aerobic vaginitis, bacterial vaginosis, and vaginal candidiasis among women of reproductive age in Arba Minch, southern Ethiopia

“…We found that BV was the third most frequently diagnosed RTI, with a prevalence as high as 26.3%, which is even higher than that reported earlier from Bahir Dar (2.8%) 17 . On the other hand, the prevalence of BV now found in Arba Minch is substantially below the extent reported in other cities of the country, Gondar and Addis Ababa (35.5–48.6%) 11 , 16 , and also Gabon (62.8%) 23 . The prevalence of BV can fluctuate widely due to varying diagnostic criteria, alterations in the characteristics of clinical populations enrolled, and some mismatching factors in the study populations.…”

Genital Mycoplasma and genital disorders among women of childbearing age in Franceville, South-Est Gabon.

“…Bignoumba et al (2022) indicate a polymicrobial etiology of vaginitis in south-eastern Gabon that was linked to several associations. The most frequently identi ed vaginal infections were BV, AV, and VVC [7]. Also, a high prevalence of BV with Genital mycoplasmas has been found in this area [7], [8].…”

“…An earlier study by Kouegnigan Rerambiah (2015) found a 68.5% rate of Mycoplasma infections among Gabonese women suspected of having a urogenital disorder [6]. Bignoumba et al (2022) indicate a polymicrobial etiology of vaginitis in south-eastern Gabon that was linked to several associations. The most frequently identi ed vaginal infections were BV, AV, and VVC [7].…”

“…The most frequently identi ed vaginal infections were BV, AV, and VVC [7]. Also, a high prevalence of BV with Genital mycoplasmas has been found in this area [7], [8]. Molecular analyses have been applied in multiple studies to understand better vaginal imbalance [4], [9].…”