The Bacterial Causative Agents of Aerobic Vaginitis in Sexually Active Nonpregnant Women and their Antibiotic Sensitivity Pattern

Abstract

Significant growth of aerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria was obtained from 43 specimens collected from sexually active nonpregnant women (20-40 years old) with aerobic vaginitis. Gram positive bacteria were isolated from 24
cases (55.8%), whereas Gram negative enteric rods were isolated from 14 cases (32.55%). Staphylococcus. aureus and coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS) were isolated from 12 cases for each (27.90%) followed by Escherichia coli 11 (25.58%), Enterobacter spp. 2 (4.65%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae 1 (2.32%). Mixed infection was noted in 4 cases: S. aureus with Streptococcus sp. 1 (2.32%); CNS with Streptococcus sp. 1 (2.32%); and CNS with E. coli 2 (4.65%). Yeast was isolated from one case (2.32%). There were few antibiotics among the conventionally available antibacterial agents possessing good sensitivity (>80%) against any one of the common aerobic vaginal pathogens. For S. aureus and CNS, imipenem was the most effective 100% and 83.3%, respectively. Most of them were resistant to penicillis, third generation cephalosporins, methicillin, metronidazol, and vancomycin. For E. coli, 100% of the isolates were sensitive to imipenem, 84.6% to chloramphenico, and 76.9% to norfloxacin and gentamicin. On the other hand most of E. coli isolates were resistant to penicillins ,third generation cephalosporins and tetracyclines. In conclusion, aerobic vaginitis can be an origin of more serious deeper infections in these patients, for that such cases must be taken in account and routine cultures and antibiotic sensitivity tests must be done for such cases in our clinical laboratories.