Comparison of vaginal flora in patients with spontaneous abortion and women with normal first-trimester

Abstract

Objective: The effect of alterations in vaginal flora during pregnancy remains uncertain. We compared the flora distribution in women with spontaneous abortion (SA) and those in normal condition. Methods: Samples of vaginal discharge were obtained from 3,233 women attending the Gynecological and Public Health Centre of our hospital from January 2010 to December 2013. Pathogen culture testing was performed by the Microbiological Diagnostic Centre of our hospital, including SA group (n = 1,513), normal first-trimester group (NP group, n = 908), and nonpregnant women (control group, n = 812). Results: Of 3,233 vaginal discharge samples, 425 samples (13.15%) were positive for pathogen. The pathogen detection rate was 19.96% (302/1,513), 7.93% (72/908), and 6.28% (51/812) in the SA, NP, and control groups, respectively. The five most common bacteria were Enterococcus faecalis, Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, group B Streptococcus (GBS), and Ureaplasma urealyticum (Uu) in the SA group; Uu, C. albicans, Candida tropicalis, GBS, and E. faecalis in the NP group; and Candida glabrata, Uu, E. coli, Gardnerella vaginalis, and C. albicans in the control group. Conclusions: In the SA group, the pathogen detection rate was markedly elevated. An infection of Candida sp. in pregnant women was relatively common. In routine antenatal care, overtreatment is not recommended in asymptomatic candidiasis. There was no significant difference in the detection rate of Uu between the SA group and the other two groups, suggesting that it does not cause SA.