Actinomyces in the female genital tract. A preliminary report.

Actinomyces spp were isolated by culture of endocervical specimens from two groups of women attending the department of genitourinary medicine of the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield. The first group consisted of 78 users of intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUCD) of whom 20 (25.6%) were culture positive. The second group contained 63 women using various forms of contraception 12 (19%) of whom were culture positive. None of these 12 women had an IUCD or foreign body in situ. The results suggest that Actinomyces spp may be part of the commensal flora of the genital tract in some women.     

Actinomyces in the female genital tract. A preliminary report

Actinomyces spp were isolated by culture of endocervical specimens from two groups of women attending the department of genitourinary medicine of the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield. The first group consisted of 78 users of intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUCD) of whom 20 (25.6%) were culture positive. The second group contained 63 women using various forms of contraception 12 (19%) of whom were culture positive. None of these 12 women had an IUCD or foreign body in situ. The results suggest that Actinomyces spp may be part of the commensal flora of the genital tract in some women.     

Activity of ciprofloxacin against genital tract pathogens.

The in vitro activity of the quinolone carboxylic acid, ciprofloxacin, against a variety of genital tract pathogens was examined. Each of 35 isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, including some beta-lactamase producing strains and strains resistant to tetracycline, was inhibited at a concentration of 0.01 mg/l. Most (13 of 20) strains of Gardnerella vaginalis were inhibited at 1 mg/l but three isolates had minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 8 mg/l or more. Each of seven strains of Chlamydia trachomatis was completely inhibited at a concentration of 2 mg/l. Prolonged (72 hours) exposure of the chlamydiae to ciprofloxacin was required for inhibition at this concentration.     

The effect of genital tract infections on HIV-1 shedding in the genital tract: a systematic review and meta-analysis

This article reviews the effect of genital tract infections and associated clinical conditions on the detection and concentration of HIV-1 shedding in the genital tract. A search of the PubMed, Embase, and AIDSearch databases was conducted. Meta-analysis was performed on those studies that reported the effect of genital tract infections on the detection of HIV-1 shedding. Thirty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria. The odds of HIV-1 detection in the genital tract were increased most substantially by urethritis (OR 3.1, 95% CI: 1.1-8.6) and cervicitis (OR 2.7, 95% CI: 1.4-5.2). The odds of HIV-1 detection were also increased significantly in the presence of cervical discharge or mucopus (OR 1.8, 95% CI: 1.2-2.7), gonorrhoea (OR 1.8, 95% CI: 1.2-2.7), chlamydial infection (OR 1.8, 95% CI: 1.1-3.1), and vulvovaginal candidiasis (OR 1.8, 95% CI: 1.3-2.4). Other infections and clinical conditions were found to have no significant effect on the detection of HIV-1, although HSV-2 shedding was found to increase the concentration of HIV-1 shedding, and genital ulcer disease was found to increase the odds of HIV-1 detection significantly after excluding one biased study (OR 2.4, 95% CI: 1.2-4.9). This analysis shows that infections that are associated with significant increases in leukocyte concentrations in the genital tract are also associated with significant increases in HIV-1 shedding. These infections are likely to be particularly important in promoting the sexual transmission and mother-to-child intrapartum transmission of HIV-1, and should therefore be the focus of HIV prevention strategies.     

Isolation of Haemophilus species from the genital tract

Haemophilus influenzae was isolated from the urethra of three of 85 men attending a sexually transmitted diseases clinic. These isolates of H. influenzae were nonencapsulated; one was biotype III, and two were biotype IV. Haemophilus parainfluenzae was isolated from the urethra or coronal sulcus of five men; three isolates were biotype II, and two were biotype III. Neither H. influenzae nor H. parainfluenzae was isolated from the genital secretions of 84 women. Haemophilus ducreyi and Haemophilus equigenitalis (contagious equine metritis bacterium) were not isolated from any of the 169 patients.     

Isolation of Neisseria lactamica from the female genital tract. A case report.

Neisseria lactamica was isolated from the genital tract of a young patient with a persistent vaginal discharge. Although infection with N lactamica occurs very rarely, the importance of complete biochemical identification of neisseriae is emphasised in view of the serious social and medicolegal consequences which could result from a misdiagnosis of gonorrhoea.     

Colposcopic features of papillomaviral infection and premalignancy in the female lower genital tract.

Colposcopy plays an important role in the investigation and direct management of papillomavirus infection of the female lower genital tract. The colposcopic appearance of subclinical papillomavirus disorders resembles intraepithelial neoplasia, and the matter is further confused in that subclinical lesions are often accompanied by intraepithelial neoplasia into which they grade with indefinite borderlines. High accuracy in prediction of histologic diagnosis in the spectrum that ranges from subclinical papillomavirus infection to major grades of intraepithelial neoplasia may be achieved by a system of grading of colposcopic appearances.     

Lower genital tract infections in infertile Nigerian women compared with controls.

OBJECTIVE--To investigate the possibility that infertile Nigerian women have a higher rate of cervical colonisation with pathogenic and facultative organisms than fertile controls. DESIGN--The prevalence of common microorganisms in the vagina and endocervical canals of infertile women was compared with that of pregnant controls. SETTING--The Obafemi Awolowo University Hospital Maternity Centre. SUBJECTS--92 infertile women were compared with 86 pregnant controls. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--rates of isolation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Candida albicans, Trichomonas vaginalis and other facultative organisms in cases and controls. RESULTS--The rate of isolation of Neisseria gonorrheae was 17.4% among infertile women compared with 10.5% in the group of pregnant women (p > 0.05). There was no significant difference between the groups in the rate of isolation of Candida albicans, Trichomonas vaginalis and other facultative organisms. High rates of isolation of microorganisms were observed in both groups. However, women with secondary infertility had higher rate of carriage of Neisseria gonorrheae, Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus as compared with women with primary infertility. Nearly 15% of infertile women had previous episodes of pelvic inflammatory disease and 26% had had induced abortions. A positive history of vaginal discharge was a poor predictor of vagina and endocervical carriage of microorganisms. CONCLUSIONS--High rates of pathogenic organisms exist in the lower genital tract of infertile women and controls. Women with secondary infertility are more likely to have pathogenic organisms than women with primary infertility. A policy of routinely screening women for lower genital tract infections should be pursued in this population because of the high rate of infection.     

生殖道沙眼衣原体感染的流行病学现状

沙眼衣原体在生殖器官引起的感染对生殖健康影响较大,沙眼衣原体感染的防治具有十分重要的公共卫生意义。沙眼衣原体的感染多发于性活动活跃的人群中,且呈现年轻化的趋势。女性与男性的感染率在不同的地区有不同的差异,并且预防和治疗妊娠期沙眼衣原体感染,对于减少不良妊娠结局非常重要。除了年龄、性别之外,还有其他的社会行为因素影响人群中生殖道沙眼衣原体的感染。研究表明沙眼衣原体与异位妊娠以及男性不育的发病存在一定的关系,但尚无明确定论。总之生殖道沙眼衣原体的感染发病率高,易带来一系列的并发症,因此开展流行病学调查,制定相关筛查措施是可行的。     

Chlamydia trachomatis antigen in female genital tract infection

Thirty cases of female genital tract infection were investigated for the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis antigen. Endocervical swabs obtained were subjected to antigen detection by enzyme immunoassay. Rabbit antiserum to chlamydial lipopolysaccharide was used in a card test. Anti rabbit immunoglobulin G conjugated to alkaline phosphatase with a chromogenic substrate 5 bromo-4 chloro-3-indolyl phosphate and nitro blue tetrazolium were used for the enzymatic reaction. Chlamydial antigen could be detected in four out of thirty samples (13.3%). In contrast direct immunofluorescence detected 5 cases (16.6%). Although less sensitive, enzyme immunoassay can be used as a rapid diagnostic tool in detecting Chlamydia trachomatis antigen in genital infections.