The vaginal bacteria and micro-ecology features in women with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis

Abstract

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the vaginal microecology features in women with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) and its etiological role.Methods From January 2013 to December 2014, 126 cases suffering with RVVC were studied, whereas 120 healthy reproductive-age women were enrolled as control.The secretions were examined by Gram stain grouped and Nugent scoring system, as well as the vaginal pH was determined simultaneously.In addition, vaginal bacteria and micro-ecology features (such as vaginal flora density, diverse and predominant population) were measured.Results The vaginal pH (4.51±0.3 Vs 4.11±0.2, P<0.05) and Nugent score (4.21±0.81 Vs 1.31±1.19, P<0.05) in RVVC group were significantly increased when compared with those in control group.The density of Lactobacillus was significantly decreased (P<0.05), whereas the density of Gardnerella/Prevotella and gram-positive cocci were significantly decreased in RVVC group (P<0.05).Additionally, the flora diverse in RVVC group was significantly raised with lower proportion of Lactobacillus-dominating community and high proportion of Gardnerella/Prevotella as well as gram-positive cocci-dominating community.Conclusion The significant alternations of vaginal bacterial community composition and structure were observed in RVVC women.Such compromising in vaginal biological barrier might relate to the risk to the recurrence of VVC, and future breakthrough might benefit from establishing new therapeutic targets and providing protective strategies for rebuilding vaginal bacterial community by developing novel probiotic Lactobacillus.

Key words: recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC), vaginal micro-ecology, Lactobacillus, Gardnerella/Prevotella

CLC Number:

R519.3

FAN Juan, SHEN Jian, JIANG Jian-hua, LIU Yan. The vaginal bacteria and micro-ecology features in women with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis[J]. Chinese Journal of Mycology, 2015, 10(4): 210-215.

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