Microbiological and Molecular Profile of Aerobic-Bacteria Colonizing Vagina of Asymptomatic Women of Child Bearing Age in Ethiope-East Region of Delta State, Nigeria

Background: Recent clinical reports have revealed potential-pathogenic-aerobic-bacteria amongst asymptomatic women of child-bearing age which have aroused the interest of diverse related investigators especially as such clinical cases have remained non-symptomatic. Methods: The study investigates the molecular characteristics of aerobic-bacteria recovered or colonizing the vagina of women of child bearing age in Ethiope-East region of Delta State, Nigeria employing both presumptive-phenotypic microbiological characterization and molecular biology/genotyping/sequencing techniques. Sixty swab samples were collected from the study region for a period of twelve months for the isolation of diverse bacteria strains. Results: Results revealed Escherichia coli (6/30, 20.0%) as most prevalent while other strains were Staphylococcus aureus (4/30, 13.3%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (4/30, 13.3%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (4/30, 13.3%), Mammaliicoccus sciuri (4/30, 13.3%), Bacillus subtilis (2/30, 6.7%), Providencia stuartii (2/30, 6.7%), Alcaligenes feacalis (2/30, 6.7%) and Enterobacter cloacae (2/30, 6.7%) each. Furthermore, the occurrence of plasmids was recorded amongst 76.7% of recovered strains which may be traced to microbial conjugation with environmental plasmid bearing strains as well as selective pressure arising from unremitting outside prescription canter and/or antibiotic misuse. Conclusion: A routine screening and surveillance/monitoring of aerobic bacteria strains in the vagina of asymptomatic women is necessary for adequate control/management of plasmid-mediated-resistance to avoid treatment failure. It is also suggested that vaginal microbiota of young-women should be similarly monitored.