TY - BOOK
T1 - Abnormal Vaginal Microflora: Risk Factors, Bed-Side Diagnostic Methods in Pregnancy and Efficiency of an Alternative Non-Antibacterial Treatment Modality in Pregnant and Non-Pregnant Women
AU - Žodžika, Jana
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - Normal vaginal microflora is an important women`s health factor, maintained by high numbers of different Lactobacillus species. Abnormal vaginal microflora and infections ascending from the lower urogenital tract represent an important reason for abortions, preterm delivery and neonatal infections. Multiple investigators have attempted to identify the patients at risk for preterm labor, followed by the treatment in a low risk population of genital infections, but the results did not meet initial hopes. Still there is growing evidence that treatment of abnormal vaginal microflora with adequate antibiotics in early pregnancy can prevent at least some of the infections related to preterm birth. While antimicrobial agents cure infections, they can cause side effects. Furthermore, urogenital pathogen drug resistance is on the increase and disrupt protective vaginal microflora. Many pregnant women are very anxious about taking antibiotics because of potentially adverse effects on the newborn. During pregnancy treatment that restores normal vaginal flora and acidity without systemic effects would be preferable to any other treatment. The aim of the present study is to investigate the influence of vaginal application of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) on abnormal vaginal microflora during pregnancy, and also to identify risk group and assess the validity of the “bed-side” diagnostic tests during the first antenatal visit in order to detect different types of abnormal vaginal flora. There are 450 pregnant (150 with elevated and 300 with normal vaginal pH) and 55 nonpregnant (with elevated vaginal pH and abnormal microflora) women included in the study. Different socio-demographic, medical, reproductive and sexual risk factors of abnormal vaginal microflora in the first trimester of pregnancy are assessed. The results of vaginal pH, wet mounts and bacteriologic examinations are correlated. The impact of vaginal vitamin C in the treatment and then maintenance regimen on different types of abnormal vaginal microflora is analysed in the present study. The major risk factors for abnormal vaginal microflora in the first trimester of pregnancy are low education level, smoking and history of abnormal vaginal microflora before pregnancy. Increased vaginal pH is associated with both aerobic and anaerobic abnormal vaginal microflora on wet mounts and overgrowth of Mycoplasma hominis and Escherichia coli. Vaginal vitamin C treatment followed by a maintenance regimen improves vaginal microflora in pregnancy. The study is supported by European Social Fund project “Support of doctoral and postdoctoral investigations in Riga Stradins University”.
AB - Normal vaginal microflora is an important women`s health factor, maintained by high numbers of different Lactobacillus species. Abnormal vaginal microflora and infections ascending from the lower urogenital tract represent an important reason for abortions, preterm delivery and neonatal infections. Multiple investigators have attempted to identify the patients at risk for preterm labor, followed by the treatment in a low risk population of genital infections, but the results did not meet initial hopes. Still there is growing evidence that treatment of abnormal vaginal microflora with adequate antibiotics in early pregnancy can prevent at least some of the infections related to preterm birth. While antimicrobial agents cure infections, they can cause side effects. Furthermore, urogenital pathogen drug resistance is on the increase and disrupt protective vaginal microflora. Many pregnant women are very anxious about taking antibiotics because of potentially adverse effects on the newborn. During pregnancy treatment that restores normal vaginal flora and acidity without systemic effects would be preferable to any other treatment. The aim of the present study is to investigate the influence of vaginal application of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) on abnormal vaginal microflora during pregnancy, and also to identify risk group and assess the validity of the “bed-side” diagnostic tests during the first antenatal visit in order to detect different types of abnormal vaginal flora. There are 450 pregnant (150 with elevated and 300 with normal vaginal pH) and 55 nonpregnant (with elevated vaginal pH and abnormal microflora) women included in the study. Different socio-demographic, medical, reproductive and sexual risk factors of abnormal vaginal microflora in the first trimester of pregnancy are assessed. The results of vaginal pH, wet mounts and bacteriologic examinations are correlated. The impact of vaginal vitamin C in the treatment and then maintenance regimen on different types of abnormal vaginal microflora is analysed in the present study. The major risk factors for abnormal vaginal microflora in the first trimester of pregnancy are low education level, smoking and history of abnormal vaginal microflora before pregnancy. Increased vaginal pH is associated with both aerobic and anaerobic abnormal vaginal microflora on wet mounts and overgrowth of Mycoplasma hominis and Escherichia coli. Vaginal vitamin C treatment followed by a maintenance regimen improves vaginal microflora in pregnancy. The study is supported by European Social Fund project “Support of doctoral and postdoctoral investigations in Riga Stradins University”.
KW - Doctoral Thesis
UR - https://dspace.rsu.lv/jspui/bitstream/123456789/3683/1/2014-09_Zhodzhika-Jana_PDK_14-047.pdf
UR - https://dspace.rsu.lv/jspui/bitstream/123456789/3684/1/2014-09_Zhodzhika-Jana_DTS_14-047.pdf
U2 - 10.25143/prom-rsu_2014-09_dt
DO - 10.25143/prom-rsu_2014-09_dt
M3 - Doctoral Thesis
PB - Riga Stradins University
CY - Riga
ER -