SCREENING OF INFERTILE FEMALES FOR LOWER GENITAL TRACT INFECTIONS

Introduction: Infertility has been known to cause serious social and emotional problems worldwide. Besides other causes of female infertility, the role of female reproductive tract infection is well recognized. Lower genital tract infection, be it symptomatic or asymptomatic, need to be diagnosed and treated properly. In view of this our study was done. Aim & Objectives: To evaluate the bacteriological profile of lower genital tract in infertile females. Methodology: It was a cross sectional type of study. After taking consent, three swabs (high vaginal swab, endocervical swab and swab from lateral vaginal wall) were taken from 100 infertile women. A questionnaire covering demographic data, menstrual history, medical history, history of infertility, etc. was completed for each of the participants. Isolation and identification of the isolates were done as per conventional techniques. Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing was done for the aerobic isolates as per CLSI guidelines. Results: In our study, 47% of females were asymptomatic and majority them showed positive microbiological growth. E.coli and S.aureus were the most common aerobic isolates and Prevotella spp. was the most common anaerobic isolate. Majority of the anaerobes were associated with bacterial vaginosis. Majority of our isolates were susceptible to Gentamicin. Conclusion: The absence of clinical symptoms does not rule out the possibility of an ongoing acute inflammatory state due infective agents. Hence, both asymptomatic and symptomatic females should be screened for lower genital tract infections as the consequences may lead to infertility.

A comparison of different O-antigen serogroups of Escherichia coli in semen samples of fertile and infertile men

Objective: Male genital tract infections have been associated with infertility, and Escherichia coli has drawn increasing attention as an important bacterium in this context. This investigation aimed to characterize and compare the distributions of O-antigen serogroups of E. coli in the semen samples of fertile and infertile men. Methods: In this case-control study, semen samples were collected from 618 fertile and 1,535 infertile men. The E. coli-positive samples were evaluated in terms of concentration, morphology, viability, and motility parameters according to the World Health Organization 2010 guidelines. Finally, different serogroups of E. coli were identified by multiplex polymerase chain reaction targeting the O-antigen variations of the bacterium.Results: The prevalence of E. coli among fertile men was significantly higher than among infertile men (p<0.001). The sperm morphology, viability, and motility in the E. coli-positive fertile group were significantly higher than in the E. coli-positive infertile group (p<0.001). E. coli O6 was the most prevalent serogroup found in both groups. However, there was no significant difference in the frequency of different serogroups of E. coil between the two groups (p=0.55). Conclusion: Despite the higher prevalence of E. coli among fertile men, E. coli had more detrimental effects on semen parameters in infertile men. There was no significant difference in E. coli serogroups between the fertile and infertile groups.

A comparison of different O-antigen serogroups of Escherichia coli in semen samples of fertile and infertile men

Objective: Male genital tract infections have been associated with infertility, and Escherichia coli has drawn increasing attention as an important bacterium in this context. This investigation aimed to characterize and compare the distributions of O-antigen serogroups of E. coli in the semen samples of fertile and infertile men. Methods: In this case-control study, semen samples were collected from 618 fertile and 1,535 infertile men. The E. coli-positive samples were evaluated in terms of concentration, morphology, viability, and motility parameters according to the World Health Organization 2010 guidelines. Finally, different serogroups of E. coli were identified by multiplex polymerase chain reaction targeting the O-antigen variations of the bacterium.Results: The prevalence of E. coli among fertile men was significantly higher than among infertile men (p<0.0001). The sperm morphology, viability, and motility in the E. coli-positive fertile group were significantly higher than in the E. coli-positive infertile group (p<0.0001). E. coli O6 was the most prevalent serogroup found in both groups. However, there was no significant difference in the frequency of different serogroups of E. coil between the two groups (p=0.55). Conclusion: Despite the higher prevalence of E. coli among fertile men, E. coli had more detrimental effects on semen parameters in infertile men. There was no significant difference in E. coli serogroups between the fertile and infertile groups.

Serotyping and Antibiotic Susceptibility of Invasive Streptococcus agalactiae in Egyptian Patients with or without Diabetes Mellitus

Streptococcus agalactiae serotype distribution and its antibiotic susceptibility affect disease prevention strategies, but the serotype distribution varies among patient groups. The objectives of this study were to establish the group B Streptococcus (GBS) serotype distribution in patients from Egypt and to assess antibiotic sensitivity of invasive GBS isolates. A total of 490 patients participated in this multicenter study; 160 had urinary tract infection, 115 complained of diabetic foot ulcers, 125 men had genital tract infections, and 30 women females had genital tract infections. Others had bronchopneumonia, otitis media, synovitis, or meningitis. Serotyping of the isolated GBS was performed at the CDC in the United States. Antibiotic sensitivity patterns were determined using the disk diffusion method. In men, the most common serotypes were II, III, and V, whereas types Ia, II, III, and V were isolated from women. Macrolides (erythromycin) resistance occurred in 4.1% of the isolates; 10.2% were resistant to both clindamycin and inducible resistance of macrolides, lincomycin, and streptogramin; 17.3% were resistant to quinolones; and 95.9% were resistant to tetracyclines. GBS primarily infected the urinary tract, skin, soft tissue, and genital tract in both genders. Isolates were sensitive to beta-lactam drugs, vancomycin, and linezolid; 14.0% were resistant to macrolides with or without clindamycin. Only 6.0% of the strains were sensitive to tetracyclines. Although GBS causes invasive infections in Egyptian adults, it rarely causes neonatal meningitis or sepsis. Future studies should determine whether GBS isolates are transmitted sexually, by performing a follow-up study of the partner of the infected patient.

Symptomatic Female Genital Tract Infections Due to Neisseria meningitidis in Athens, Greece

Neisseria meningitidis is considered as an obligate human pathogen and can cause life-threatening diseases like meningitis and/or septicaemia. Occasionally, it can be recovered from infections outside the bloodstream or central nervous system, like respiratory, ocular, joint, urogenital or other unusual sites. Herein, we present two rare cases of female genital infections due to N. meningitidis within a two-year period (2019–2020), identified as serogroup B (MenB) and Y (MenY), respectively. Genotypic analysis for PorA, FetA and MLST revealed the following characteristics: MenB: 7-12, 14, F5-36, 1572cc and MenY: 5-1,10-1, F4-5, 23cc, respectively. Such unusual presentations should alert the clinicians and microbiologists not to exclude N. meningitidis from routine diagnosis and the need of early detection. This is the first report in Greece, and, to our knowledge, in Europe since 2005 describing meningococcal female genital infections.

Placental dysfunction as a basic pathology of perinatal complications

Research aim was to study the features of perinatal complications depending on the nature and timing of therapy in pregnant women with primary placental dysfunction.Materials and methods. 82 pregnant women with verified placental dysfunction (chorionic hypoplasia at 12–13 weeks) against the background of the threat of pregnancy termination and genital tract infections were included. All examined were divided into 2 groups: group I consisted of 42 pregnant women who started treatment before 16 weeks of gestation, group II consisted of 40 pregnant women whose treatment was started after 16 weeks of gestation. Women in group I received micronized progesterone, venotonic Normoven, Magnicum and Artihol. Antibacterial sanitation was carried out before 16 weeks of gestation. Group II also received micronized progesterone only. Antibacterial sanitation in this group was carried out after 16 weeks of gestation.Research results. After antibiotic therapy in group I monoinfections value decreased from 26.8 to 9.5%, mixed infections value decreased from 56.1 to 20.7%, while in group II the effectiveness of antibacterial therapy after 16 weeks was significantly lower. Statistically significant differences in weight, volume and area of the placenta in patients of studied groups were obtained. Assessing perinatal complications showed that the frequency of gestosis, premature birth, intrauterine growth retardation and intrauterine infection of the fetus were almost 2 times less frequent in group I than in group II.Conclusions. Placental dysfunction, which developed in the first trimester against the background of the threat of pregnancy termination and genital tract infections, is the basic pathology for complications of the perinatal period. A timely prescribed set of medical supplies, including micronized progesterone, venotonic Normoven, Artihol and Magnicum, was as an effective method of preventing perinatal complications in pregnant women with primary placental dysfunction. Antibiotic therapy up to 16 weeks of gestation does not fully prevent the development of perinatal complications, but it can significantly reduce the level of severe gestational pathology.

Prevalence of lower genital tract infections and its related factors among Khmer women of reproductive age in Can Tho City, Vietnam in 2015 - 2016

This study aims to estimate the prevalence of Lower Genital Tract Infections (LGTIs) and its related factors among Khmer women of reproductive age in Can Tho City, Vietnam. A community-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted among 830 Khmer women of reproductive age in Can Tho City. The results of the study showed that 57.5% of the surveyed subjects have LGTIs including clinical forms such as cervicitis, vaginitis and vulvitis, among which cervical abnormalities account for a large part (58.9%). The rate of cervicitis among Khmer women living in rural areas was highest at 84.0%. The prevalence of LGTIs was highest in the above 41-aged group (70.5%). Farmers were the occupational group with the highest rate of LGTIs of 68.9%. In conclusions, 477 out of 830 Khmer women, or 57.5%, were diagnosed with lower genital tract infections. There was a statistically signifcant association between the prevalence of LGTIs and age, residence, and Khmer women’s occupation.

The vaginal microflora changes in various stages of the estrous cycle of healthy female dogs and the ones with genital tract infections

Background Inflammatory diseases of reproductive tract in bitches are a common problem in veterinary practice. The inflammation can lead to serious health problems. Research to determine the correlation between the health status of females, phase of the cycle, age and bacterial flora of the genital tract has been ongoing for years, but the results obtained by individual authors are often contradictory. Results A total of 39 dogs were included in this study. Ten were qualified to the 1st group with genital tract infections (8 in anestrus and 2 in proestrus) and 29 to the 2nd group without such infections (16 in anestrus, 9 in proestrus and 4 in diestrus). The most common bacterial isolates obtained from the vaginal tract of all dogs were Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and Streptococcus canis. The prevalence of Gram-negative rods (other than E. coli) was significantly higher in the group with genital tract infections versus healthy dogs. There was no presence of Chlamydiaceae, Chlamydia abortus and lactic acid-producing bacteria in tested swabs. Conclusions Our study identified the most common bacteria in the genital tract of bitches. The total number of bacteria was almost the same in the healthy and infected dogs, as well as between the cycle stages. In our opinion, bacterial culturing of vaginal swab specimens from bitches without signs of genital disease is of little value. Furthermore, it should always be preceded by clinical examination and cytological examination of the vaginal epithelium.