Effect of Time on the Viability of Isolates Obtained from High Vaginal and Urethral Swabs

Abstract

Seventy (70) specimens which comprised of fifty (50) high vaginal swab (HVS) and twenty (20) urethral swabs were collected from the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (U.B.T.H) and some private hospitals in Benin City. Organisms isolated included Staphylococcus aureus Introduction 28 (56%), Candida albicans 10 (20%), Escherichia coli 7 (14%), Proteus_vulgaris_ 3 (6%) and Klebsiella_aerogenes_ 2 (4%). The presence of pus cells which is an indication of bacteria degeneration and infection reduced significantly from O hour to 8hours while yeast cells multiplied from the O hour to 8hours as shown in table III. In conclusion, the constituents of high vaginal swab and urethral swab specimen revealed degeneration and reduced counts due to delay. Clinical microbiology laboratories should establish guidelines as to the time limits during which specimen would be acceptable for culture to get optimum and reliable results.

Keywords: Diseases, High vaginal swabs, Urethral swabs, Time