Prevalence and characterization of Gardnerella vaginalis in pregnant mothers with a history of preterm delivery

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dc.contributor.advisorAfrica, Charlene
dc.contributor.authorStemmet, Megan
dc.contributor.otherDept. of Medical BioSciences
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-12T14:00:35Z
dc.date.accessioned2024-11-04T13:15:42Z
dc.date.available2013/07/08
dc.date.available2013/07/08 12:16
dc.date.available2014-03-12T14:00:35Z
dc.date.available2024-11-04T13:15:42Z
dc.date.issued2012
dc.description>Magister Scientiae - MScen_US
dc.description.abstractRisk factors such as intrauterine and vaginal infection put pregnant women at risk for delivering preterm. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a polymicrobial clinical syndrome commonly diagnosed in women of reproductive age, with women of African descent with low socioeconomic status and previous preterm delivery at high risk. Although frequently isolated from healthy women, Gardnerella vaginalis has been most frequently associated with BV. There is limited data available on the prevalence of BV in Southern Africa; therefore, we embarked on a study to determine the prevalence of BV and G. vaginalis in predominantly black communities in the Western Cape, in order to establish the role of G. vaginalis in BV. Women attending various Maternity and Obstetrics units (MOU) in the Cape Peninsula with and without a history of pre-term delivery (PTD) were invited to participate in the study. Several factors were statistically associated with pregnancy history, including location of study population, parity, smoking and presence of clinical symptoms. The presence of G. vaginalis was determined by culture in 51.7% of the preterm delivery group (PTDG) and 44% of the full-term delivery group (FTDG) women. BV was detected in 31.13% of PTDG and 23.67% of FTDG by Gram stained analysis according to Nugent scoring criteria, with age and HIV status posing as risk factors. When comparing PTDG and FTDG for an association between the presence of G. vaginalis and BV, a stronger association was observed in the PTDG but it was not statistically significant. In both PTDG and FTDG, G. vaginalis was isolated significantly more often in women diagnosed with BV at 24.5% (p < 0.05). Antibiogram studies revealed both Metronidazole and Clindamycin resistant strains of G. vaginalis. G. vaginalis Biotype 7 is specifically associated with BV, while Biotype 2 appears to be associated with BV in women with a history of PTD. Accuracy of diagnostic tools were tested and it was determined that Nugent scoring is more sensitive in diagnosing BV (76.04%), but culture for G. vaginalis is more specific (83.21%). Although this study was limited in that we were unable to follow-up pregnancy outcomes, we were able to confirm the perceived role of G. vaginalis in BV.en_US
dc.description.countrySouth Africa
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10566/17326
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherUniversity of the Western Capeen_US
dc.rights.holderCopyright: University of the Western Capeen_US
dc.subjectGardnerella vaginalisen_US
dc.subjectPreterm deliveryen_US
dc.subjectBacterial vaginosisen_US
dc.subjectNugent scoringen_US
dc.subjectGram stainingen_US
dc.subjectPregnancyen_US
dc.subjectBiotypingen_US
dc.subjectNormal floraen_US
dc.subjectAdverse outcomesen_US
dc.titlePrevalence and characterization of Gardnerella vaginalis in pregnant mothers with a history of preterm deliveryen_US

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