The prevalence of gonococcal and non-gonococcal infections in women referred to obstetrics and gynecology clinics

Bacterial vaginosis is a condition caused by changes in the vaginal microbial ecosystem and increases the risk of preterm delivery, premature rupture of membranes, endometritis, and weight loss of the baby. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of gonococcal and non-gonococcal genital infections in women referred to clinics in Ilam, Iran. Two swab samples were taken from each patient using a sterile swab, one swab was placed in a THB medium for the culture of Streptococcus agalactiae and the other in PBS buffer for PCR. PCR method was conducted for the identification of the other bacterial agents such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, and also S. agalactiae. Sampling was performed on 169 women with symptomatic vaginosis. The frequency of S. agalactiae by culture and PCR methods was 4.7 (8 samples) and 13.6 (23 samples) respectively. Also, 6.5 (11 samples), 3.5 (6 samples), 4.1 (7 samples), 1.2 (2 samples), and 0 of the samples were positive for N. gonorrhoeae, M. genitalium, M. hominis, U. urealyticum and C. trachomatis by PCR method. Except for a significant association between S. agalactiae colonization and abortion, there was no significant correlation between the prevalence of these bacteria and the patient's age, age of marriage, number of deliveries, and number of abortions. Overall, the prevalence of gonococcal and non-gonococcal infection in women referred to clinics in Ilam is similar to the other parts of Iran

Anti-biofilm Properties of Peganum harmala against Candida albicans

OBJECTIVES: Vaginitis still remains as a health issue in women. It is notable that Candida albicans producing biofilm is considered a microorganism responsible for vaginitis with hard to treat. Also, Peganum harmala was applied as an anti fungal in treatment for many infections in Iran. Therefore, this study goal to investigate the role of P. harmala in inhibition of biofilm formation in C. albicans. METHODS: So, 27 C. albicans collected from women with Vaginitis, then subjected for biofilm formation assay. P. harmala was applied as antibiofilm formation in C. albicans. RESULTS: Our results demonstrated that P. harmala in concentration of 12 mug/ml easily inhibited strong biofilm formation; while the concentrations of 10 and 6 mug/ml inhibited biofilm formation in moderate and weak biofilm formation C. albicans strains, respectively. CONCLUSION: Hence, the current study presented P. harmala as antibiofilm herbal medicine for C. albicans; but in vivo study suggested to be performed to confirm its effectiveness