Microflora in pregnancy.

Three hundred high vaginal swabs from pregnant women were cultured to investigate the vaginal flora during pregnancy. Two hundred swabs obtained from a private clinic were cultured aerobically for bacteria only, the remaining 100 from antenatal clinic of Khyber Hospital Peshawar were cultured both aerobically and anaerobically for bacteria and fungi (candida). Vaginal smears from patients in antenatal clinic were also examined for the presence of Trichomonas vaginalis. The organisms isolated were streptococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, staphiococcus aureus, streptococcus agalactiae pseudomonas aeruginesa and candida albicans. Candida albiicans was the most common organism isolated. Staphlococcus epidermidis was the only pathogenic growth obtained. Trichomonas vaginalis was observed in only 5 mears. The only anaerobic growth was that of gram positive cocci.(JPMA 63 ; 79 1996).