Factors Associated with Acquisition of, or Persistent Colonization by, Vaginal Lactobacilli: Role of Hydrogen Peroxide Production

To identify factors that predict sustained colonization by vaginal lactobacilli, microbiologic, behavioral, and demographic data were obtained from 101 nonpregnant women at baseline and at 4 and 8 months. A total of 272 isolates of lactobacilli were identified to the species level by use of whole ch...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of infectious diseases 2001-12, Vol.184 (11), p.1431-1436
Main Authors: Vallor, Ana C., Antonio, May A. D., Hawes, Stephen E., Hillier, Sharon L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use
Bacterial colonization
Bacterial diseases
Bacterial diseases of the genital system
Bacterial vaginosis
Bacteriology
Biological and medical sciences
Coitus
Demography
DNA
DNA, Viral - analysis
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Human bacterial diseases
Humans
Hydrogen
Hydrogen Peroxide - metabolism
Infections
Infectious diseases
Lactobacillus
Lactobacillus - growth & development
Lactobacillus - isolation & purification
Lactobacillus - metabolism
Lactobacillus crispatus
Lactobacillus jensenii
Major Articles
Medical sciences
Microbial colonization
Microbiology
Pathogenicity, virulence, toxins, bacteriocins, pyrogens, host-bacteria relations, miscellaneous strains
Risk Factors
Sexually transmitted diseases
Vagina
Vagina - microbiology
Vaginosis, Bacterial - microbiology
Women
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Summary:To identify factors that predict sustained colonization by vaginal lactobacilli, microbiologic, behavioral, and demographic data were obtained from 101 nonpregnant women at baseline and at 4 and 8 months. A total of 272 isolates of lactobacilli were identified to the species level by use of whole chromosomal DNA homology to type strains. The predominant lactobacilli were the species Lactobacillus crispatus (38%) and L. jensenii (41%). Of 57 women initially colonized by H2O2-producing L. crispatus or L. jensenii 23 (40%) remained colonized over 8 months, compared with 1 (5%) of 21 women colonized by other H2O2-producing species or by H2O2-negative strains (P=.01). Frequency of sexual intercourse (⩾1 sex act per week) was associated with loss of colonization with H2O2-producing lactobacilli (P=.018), as was antibiotic use (P⩽.0001). Other behavioral and demographic characteristics did not predict sustained colonization. The production of H2O2 is closely linked with species and is a predictor for sustained long-term colonization of the vagina
ISSN:0022-1899
1537-6613
DOI:10.1086/324445