A Prospective Comparative Study of the Bacterial Flora of the Vagina and Cervix in Non-Pregnant Women of Childbearing Age in Calabar, Nigeria.

Abstract

A qualitative comparative study of the bacterial flora of the vagina and cervix of 90 non-pregnant women of childbearing age (18-35 years) in Calabar was undertaken. The study revealed that both aerobic and microaerophilic organisms as well as the strictly anaerobic bacteria constituted the microflora of the lower genital of this group of women. Of the 90 women sampled, Lactobacilli were the most frequently isolated organism in both the cervix and vagina, occurring in 62.2% and 75.6% and the samples respectively. Proteus species were the least in incidence, occurring in only 4% of either the cervical or vaginal specimens. The following pathogenic organisms were isolated in both the vagina and cervix: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, Clostridium species and Beta-haemolytic Streptococci. In general, the same types of organisms were isolated in both the cervical and vaginal samples, although the incidence in the two sources varied.


Mary Slessor Journal of Medicine Vol.3(2) 2003: 1-4