Abstract
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The use of contraceptives is important in preventing
unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
However, the use of various contraceptive methods could expose
women to microbial infections.
Aim: To investigate the antimicrobial susceptibility of microbial
?ora from vaginal swab of asymptomatic women using different
contraceptive methods.
Materials and Methods: In this study, high vaginal swab
samples were collected from sexually active 406 women
between 20 and 45 years of age. Women who were nonspecifc user of methods were considered as control group. All
participating women had no history of antibiotic use since last 2
weeks from the study period as well as abstained from the same
during the study period from June to December 2017. The use
of contraceptives among different age groups was determined.
The microbial ?ora of asymptomatic individuals were assessed
by direct smear, microscopy examination, bacteriological and
biochemical identifcation of the isolated microorganisms and
their susceptibility were carried out on the samples collected.
All information collected was compiled and data were analysed
using SPSS Software programme.
Results: In this study, 39.4% of the population (n=406) were
combined hormonal users. While the percentage of the Intrauterine
Device (IUD) users was 27.1% and those of the condom users
was 21.2%, the non-specifc users were 12.3% of the sampled
population. Of the women using different contraceptives, 8.1%
(29) women using combined hormonal contraceptives, and
2.53% (9) barrier users, 1.97% IUDs users and only 10% of the 50
women in the control groups had bacterial infection. On the other
hand, the distribution of fungal strains isolated from contraceptive
users showed that 16.01% (57) IUDs users, 5.7% (23) combined
hormonal users, 5.06% (18) barrier users and only 16.0% (8) of
the women (n=50) in the control group had fungal infection. The
antimicrobial assay showed that more than 90% of P. mirabilis,
K. oxytoca, E. coli, Group B beta-haemolytic streptococci and S.
aureus were susceptible to cipro?oxacin, o?oxacin, P. mirabilis
(50%), K. oxytoca (95%), E. coli (96%), H. streptococci (80%)
and S. aureus (94%) were susceptible to nitrofurantoin. However,
these isolates were highly resistant to ceftazidime, gentamycin,
kanamycin, tetracycline, cloxacillin, augmentin, ampicillin and
amoxicillin. On the other hand, 80% of the fungal isolates were
susceptible to ketoconazole, nystatin (75%), clotrimazole (65%)
and ?uconazole (60%) but were all resistant to griseofulvin.
Conclusion: This study shows that more strains of bacteria
and fungi were isolated from women in ages 31-35 years of
women sampled and indicated that the most predominant
isolates in asymptomatic individuals using contraceptives
were highly resistant to most of the antibiotics used except
cipro?oxacin, o?oxacin and nitrofurantoin to which they were
highly susceptible.
