Vaginal Infections' Etiologies in South-Eastern Gabon - An Overview

• Published in: International journal of women's health Vol. 14; pp. 505 - 515
• Main Authors: Bignoumba, Michelle, Mbombe Moghoa, Kelly H, Muandze-Nzambe, Jean Ulrich, Kassa Kassa, Roland Fabrice, Mouanga Ndzime, Yann, Gafou, Amahani, Longo Pendy, Neil Michel, Onanga, Richard, Kumulungui, Brice Serge
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Zealand Dove Medical Press Limited 01.01.2022; Dove; Dove Medical Press
• Subjects: aerobic vaginitis; Analysis; bacterial vaginosis; Development and progression; Health aspects; Infection; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Original Research; Surveys; trichomonal vaginitis; vaginitis; Vaginosis; vulvovaginal candidiasis; Gabon; Sub-Saharan Africa; aerobic vaginitis; trichomonal vaginitis; vulvovaginal candidiasis; bacterial vaginosis; vaginitis
• ISSN: 1179-1411; 1179-1411
• DOI: 10.2147/IJWH.S349754

Discomfort in women of childbearing age associated with vaginal infections, namely bacterial vaginosis (BV), aerobic vaginitis (AV), vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), and trichomoniasis (TV), represent a serious and ongoing gynecological complication throughout the world. This study aimed to investigate the etiologies of vaginal infections among outpatients in south-eastern Gabon. A cross-sectional study was designed using participants referred directly by their treating doctor for a vaginal swab. Socio-demographic data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Microscopic examinations were used for TV and BV diagnostic. All vaginal swabs were cultured for AV and VVC isolates using standard microbiology methods. A total of 573 women of reproductive age participated in the study. The most common identified vaginal infections were BV (62.8%) and AV (51.1%) followed by VVC (34.1%). No significant difference was observed for each etiology compared to socio-demographic data. B (23.9%), (17.7%), spp. (11.6%), and (5.8%) were the bacteria most associated with AV. A high incidence of non- . Candida (NCAC) strains causing vulvovaginitis were found. The prevalence of TV (2.1%) was low. Mixed infections had been common among participants. No association was found with TV and other vaginal infections, unlike others studies. The present study identified BV 228 (83.5%) and AV 227 (83.2%) as the main cause of mixed infections. The mixed infection AV-BV 113 (41.4%) was the most represented. Also that simultaneous AV-BV-VVC represented 69 (25.3%) of mixed infections. Molecular analyses would be needed to identify the key species commonly associated with these vaginal infections.