Influence of chlamydial cervicitis on vaginal microbiocenosis

Abstract number: 1134_02_43

Romanik M., Wilk I., Wiechula B., Ekiel A., Friedek D., Martirosian G.

Chlamydia trachomatis is the predominant causative agent of pelvic inflammatory disease and, as a result of damage of the fallopian tubes, accounts for up to half of all ectopic pregnancies. Infection with C. trachomatis can influence on vaginal microflora. Association between C. trachomatis, urogenital mycoplasmas and bacterial vaginosis (BV) was described recently. Vaginal discharge based on changes in a vaginal ecosystem (decreasing number of Lactobacillus spp. and increasing number of Mobiluncus spp., Gardnerella vaginalis, Prevotella spp., Peptostreptococcus spp., Mycoplasma hominis and others) appears to be a major cause of BV. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of chlamydial cervicitis on vaginal microbiocenosis and BV. Under investigation were 122 sexually active non-pregnant women aged from 18 to 40 years with diagnosed cervicitis by cytological examination and presence of muco-purulent discharge. Fifty five women were included in studied group – with confirmed C. trachomatis cervicitis and 67 women – in control group (with non-chlamydial/non-gonococcal cervicitis). BV was diagnosed using Amsel and Nugent (0–3 negative; 4–6 intermediate; 7–10 positive) criteria. By using Amsel criteria BV was suggested in 11% and 6% correspondingly among women in studied and control group. By using Nugent criteria BV was suggested correspondingly in 5.5% and 3%. These differences were not statistically significant and can be explained by the presence of muco-purulent discharge among studied women. Among women with chlamydial cervicitis statistically frequently were observed large morphotypes of Lactobacillus spp. and intermediate Nugent score. We did not observe significant differences in occurrence of Corynebacterium spp., Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp. (GBS), Gram-negative Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas spp. and urogenital mycoplasmas. Further studies require for evaluation of influence of chlamydial cervicitis on BV.