The microbiome of the vagina is characterized by a community bacteria playing important roles in the overall health status of the female genital tract. This study was conducted to isolate and characterize bacteria from the female genital tract and as well evaluate the antibiotics susceptibility pattern of the vaginal bacterial isolates. For this purpose, a total of fifty (50) vaginal swab samples were collected (using sterile swab sticks) from females attending a tertiary institution in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, and subjected to standard bacteriological analysis. Antibiotics sensitivity analysis was carried out using the modified Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method. A total of 160 bacterial isolates were obtained from the subjects of different age brackets in the study population. Molecular identification based on the nucleic acid sequence of the bacterial isolates revealed the isolates to be Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus flexus and Lysinibacillus macrolides. The result further showed that Escherichia coli was the most occurring bacterial isolate. Also, female subjects within the age bracket 21-23 years recorded the highest number of bacterial isolates (67) and 24-26 years had the least number of bacterial isolates (36). The antibiotic sensitivity analysis revealed that Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were resistant to 50% of the antibiotics tested, whereas Klebsiella Original Research Article Sampson et al.; IJPR, 7(1): 17-27, 2021; Article no.IJPR.69130 18 pneumoniae was resistant to all (100% of) the antibiotics tested. The study has revealed that the vaginal microbiome of healthy female subjects is characterised by diverse species of bacteria, including opportunistic bacterial pathogens. The study therefore, recommended that regular screening for bacterial vaginosis as well as personal hygiene, sensitization programs to improve knowledge of women, should be encouraged.

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Molecular Characterisation and Antibiogram of Vaginal Flora from Students Attending a Tertiary Institution in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Candidiasis is increasingly affecting women in developing countries, due to several factors relating to environmental and physiological conditions of the individual. Knowledge of the factors influencing the epidemiology of Candida spp. will be useful in formulating public health measures targeted at reducing the incidence of Candidiasis. This study was therefore conducted to determine the prevalence of Candida albicans amongst women in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, in order to decipher the epidemiology of Candida albicans in relation to age and gestation. A total of seventy (140) vaginal swab samples were collected from 70 pregnant and 70 non-pregnant women in Port Harcourt, and analyzed using standard microbiological methods. The result showed that 36% of the total women studied had Candida albicans while 64% were negative. In the overall analysis, the distribution of the yeast was 43% prevalent in pregnant and 29% in non-pregnant women. The risk of Candidiasis in pregnancy was evaluated using the Odds Ratio (OR) and was determined to be 1.88. Also, a paired sample t-test indicated a positive and strong statistical relationship between age distribution and the presence of Candida albicans in women, with a correlation coefficient of Original Research Article Sampson and George; IJPR, 3(4): 1-7, 2019; Article no.IJPR.54597 2 0.911 (91.1%) (ρ< 0.05), indicating a higher incidence among the older group, albeit lower in age groups close to menopause. The study concluded that the prevalence is higher in pregnant women, with a significant relationship with age. Regular screening of women for Candida spp. should be advocated and women should as well avoid conditions that dispose them to genital tract infections.

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T. Sampson

Papers

Evaluating the Risk of Candida albicans Associated with Gestation amongst Women in Port Harcourt, River State, Nigeria