Alterations in the Genital Microbiota in Women With Spinal Cord Injury. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the vaginal and cervical microbiota in women with spinal cord injury compared with mobile women. METHODS: Fifty-two women with spinal cord injury (study group) and 57 mobile women (control group) were evaluated in a case-control study. All answered a structured questionnaire and were submitted to the following microbiological tests: microscopic examination of vaginal secretions for Trichomonas vaginalis and yeasts, Nugent score by Gram stain, bacterial culture, yeast culture, and endocervical sampling for Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Mycoplasma species. RESULTS: Candida species detected by direct microscopic examination of vaginal fluid was more common in women with spinal cord injuries than in control women: 17.3% (9/52) compared with 3.5% (2/57), respectively (P=.017). However, the frequency of yeast-positive cultures was similar in both groups (21.2% [10/52] compared with 15.8% [14/57]). Women with spinal cord injury were more likely to have positive vaginal cultures for Escherichia coli (15.4% [8/52] compared with 0% [0/57], P=.002) and Corynebacterium species (25.0% [13/52] compared with 8.8% [5/57], P=.037) and less likely for Lactobacillus species (63.5% [33/52] compared with 94.7% [54/57], P<.001). Women with spinal cord injury were more likely to have intermediate flora by Gram stain (Nugent score 4-6) than did the women in the control group (13.5% [7/52] compared with 1.8% [1/57], P=.033). The frequency of Mycoplasma species detection was similar in both groups (36.9% [18/52] compared with 34.6% [21/57]). No woman in either group was positive for T vaginalis, C trachomatis, or N gonorrhoeae. CONCLUSION: Women with spinal cord injury have an alteration in their vaginal microbiota away from a Lactobacillus species-dominated flora and a higher concentration of vaginal Candida species than do mobile women.

publication date

  • February 1, 2016

Research

keywords

  • Cervix Uteri
  • Microbiota
  • Spinal Cord Injuries
  • Vagina

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 84955494513

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1097/AOG.0000000000001257

PubMed ID

  • 26942354

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 127

issue

  • 2