Interrelationships Within the Bacterial Flora of the Female Genital Tract

Analysis of 240 consecutive vaginal swabs using the compatibility profile technique revealed that only 2 bacteria have the ability to be a sole isolate and as such a candidate to be a major aerobic regulator of the bacterial flora of the female genital tract (BFFGT). Compatibility profiles ofLactobacillusandGardnerella vaginalishave shown that these organisms shared compatibility profiling for the majority of the normal bacterial constituents of the female genital tract. Dominance disruption appears to come from the addition of compatible co-isolates and presumed loss of numerical superiority. These phenomena appear to be the keys to reregulation of BFFGT.Lactobacillusappears to be the major regulator of bothG. vaginalisand anaerobic bacteria. When additional organisms are added to the bacterial flora, they may add to or partially negate the inhibitory influence ofLactobacilluson the BFFGT. Inhibitor interrelationships appear to exist between coagulase-negative staphylococci andStaphylococcus aureusand the group B streptococci (GBS) and other beta hemolytic streptococci. Facilitating interrelationships appear to exist betweenS. aureusand the GBS and selectedEnterobacteriaceae.

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In Vitro Ability of the Group B Streptococci to Inhibit Gram-Positive and Gram-Variable Constituents of the Bacterial Flora of the Female Genital Tract

Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology ◽

10.1155/s1064744995000391 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 3 (3) ◽

pp. 91-97 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Pongsakdi Chaisilwattana ◽

Gilles R. G. Monif

Keyword(s):

Genital Tract ◽

Bacterial Flora ◽

Female Genital Tract ◽

Test Panel ◽

Viridans Streptococci ◽

Group B Streptococci ◽

Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽

Group B ◽

Female Genital

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the ability of septicemic and nonsepticemic isolates of group B streptococci (GBS) to inhibit in vitro the principal bacterial groups found in the normal bacterial flora of the female genital tract. Methods: The target groups were composed of 1) 10 strains each of the following: viridans streptococci, nonhemolytic streptococci (not group B or D), group A streptococci, GBS, peptostreptococci, coagulase-negative staphylococci, Staphylococcus aureus, and Gardnerella vaginalis; 2) 9 strains of enterococci; 3) 9 strains of group C or G streptococci; 4) 7 strains of lactobacilli; and 5) 7 strains of diphtheroids. All target groups were tested for inhibition by a test panel of either a group of 10 or 41 GBS isolates. If the GBS isolates failed to inhibit a target group, that group was tested for its ability to inhibit the GBS test panel. Results: The GBS test panel did not inhibit the growth of coagulase-negative staphylococci or S. aureus but uniformly inhibited groups A, B, C, and G streptococci, lactobacilli, and G. vaginalis. One of the 7 strains of diphtheroids was inhibited by 37 of the 41 GBS isolates; the other 6 strains of diphtheroids were uniformly inhibited. Variable inhibition by GBS was observed with viridans streptococci, nonhemolytic (not group B or D) streptococci, peptostreptococci, and enterococci; however, inhibition or noninhibition was uniform for a given target strain against the entire GBS test panel. The 23 GBS isolates obtained from septicemic neonates or adults did not differ from the 18 nonsepticemic isolates in their ability to inhibit other species of streptococci or other gram-positive or gram-variable constituents of the bacterial flora of the female genital tract. When converse testing was done, all 10 GBS isolates were uniformly inhibited by coagulase-negative staphylococci and by the majority of enterococci, but were not inhibited by S. aureus.Conclusions: These studies suggest that GBS may be significant regulators of other β-hemolytic streptococci, diphtheroids, lactobacilli, and G. vaginalis within the bacterial flora of the female genital tract. Moreover, the absence of GBS in the vaginal flora may be the result of mediation by coagulase-negative staphylococci and selected strains of enterococci.

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Group B streptococci in the female genital tract.

BMJ ◽

10.1136/bmj.1.6020.1245 ◽

1976 ◽

Vol 1 (6020) ◽

pp. 1245-1247 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

R G Finch ◽

G L French ◽

I Phillips

Keyword(s):

Genital Tract ◽

Female Genital Tract ◽

Group B Streptococci ◽

Group B ◽

Female Genital

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Source of group B streptococci in the female genital tract.

Journal of Clinical Pathology ◽

10.1136/jcp.34.1.84 ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 34 (1) ◽

pp. 84-86 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

P J Sanderson ◽

J Ross ◽

J Stringer

Keyword(s):

Genital Tract ◽

Female Genital Tract ◽

Group B Streptococci ◽

Group B ◽

Female Genital

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GROUP B STREPTOCOCCI IN THE FEMALE GENITAL TRACT

Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey ◽

10.1097/00006254-197701000-00004 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 32 (1) ◽

pp. 12-13

Author(s):

ROGER G. FINCH ◽

G. L. FRENCH ◽

IAN PHILLIPS

Keyword(s):

Genital Tract ◽

Female Genital Tract ◽

Group B Streptococci ◽

Group B ◽

Female Genital

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Quantitation of Albumin and Alpha-1-Acid Glycoprotein in Human Cervical Mucus

Human & Experimental Toxicology ◽

10.1177/096032719101000209 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 137-139 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

I.G. Salas Herrera ◽

R.M. Pearson ◽

P. Turner

Keyword(s):

Oral Contraceptives ◽

Genital Tract ◽

Female Genital Tract ◽

Cervical Mucus ◽

Combined Oral Contraceptives ◽

Acid Glycoprotein ◽

Group A ◽

The Mean ◽

Group B ◽

Female Genital

1 Concentrations of albumin and alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) in human cervical mucus have been measured by a radial immunodiffusion technique. 2 The cervical mucus samples were obtained from women on combined oral contraceptives (Group A) and from women not taking this medication (Group B). In group A the mean level of albumin was 75.6 (range 22-198) mg 1-1 and for AGP 6.5 (range 3-12) mg 1-1. In group B the mean level of albumin was 72.9 (range 22-148) mg 1-1 and for AGP 6.6 (range 3-14) mg 1 -1. 3 The levels of albumin and AGP in cervical mucus were less than 1% of the concentration in serum and were not affected by combined oral contraceptives. 4 The clinical and toxicological consequences of these observations, in terms of the disposition of drugs and other chemicals in the female genital tract, await elucidation.

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