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Microbiology of the Female Genital Tract during Pregnancy and Parturition
Author(s) -
Naderi Shahrokh,
Gettner Seyedeh,
Zeighami Elaine,
Khairandish M. Hossein
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1002/j.1879-3479.1976.tb00570.x
Subject(s) - vagina , medicine , pregnancy , vaginal flora , obstetrics , lactobacillus , sex organ , postpartum period , female circumcision , vaginal delivery , genital tract , gynecology , flora (microbiology) , physiology , biology , bacteria , surgery , genetics
ABSTRACT To study the pattern of vaginal flora during pregnancy and parturition, high vaginal cultures were taken from three groups of women: (1) cultures were taken from 42 pregnant women during routine antenatal visits; (2) in 111 women admitted in labour, vaginal cultures were obtained upon admission, prior to delivery, just after completion of delivery and on the first and second postpartum day, and; (3) cultures were obtained from 55 normal non‐pregnant women. The type of microbial inhabitants of the female genital tract in the antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum periods did not differ from the vaginal flora found in the normal non‐pregnant condition. Pathogenic and opportunist organisms increased in frequency during labour and through the postpartum period. Lactobacillus, fungi and Staph. albus were the only organisms showing a decrease during the intrapartum and postpartum period. They were also the only organisms which were more frequently cultured in pregnant than in non‐pregnant women. The pattern of change in the presence of organisms in the vagina was analysed according to length of labour. Length of labour appeared to have little effect on the probability of any organism gaining entrance into the vagina.