Site-Specific Prevalence and Cell Densities of Selected Microbesin the Lower Reproductive Tract of Menstruating Tampon Users

[摘要] Objective:To assess differences in prevalence and cell densities of enterococci, Gram negative enterics (GNEs),yeast andStaphylococcus aureusamong four genital sites and to examine whether the presence of organisms at onesite affected the presence of organisms at other sites.Methods:Swab samples from the perineum, below and above the hymen, and the posterior fornix obtainedfrom 52 tampon users on menstrual cycle day 3 were analyzed for site-specific prevalence and cell densities ofmicroorganisms.Results:Enterococci and GNEs were the most prevalent study organisms at all sites and decreased in prevalencefromthe perineumto the posterior fornix.Cell densities similarly decreased frombelow the hymen to the posteriorfornix. Yeast were detected at the hymen only;S. aureusfrequency was similarly low at all sites. Yeast andS. aureussite-specific cell densities were similar. The above- and below-hymen sites were similar in prevalence and celldensity of organisms. An above-chance association existed between the presence of any study organism belowthe hymen and above the hymen and was strongest for GNEs.Conclusions:The pattern of genital colonization with enterococci and GNEs reflects their likely gastrointestinalsource. The absence of significant differences in the prevalence and cell densities of study microflora above andbelow the hymen combined with an above-chance association of the presence of microorganisms at these regionssuggests that the regions above and below the hymen are not different with respect to the presence of theorganisms evaluated in this study.

[学科分类] 妇产科学