VAGINAL BIOCENOSIS IN THE CONTEXT OF VIEW OF QUANTITATIVE POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION: WHAT IS ITS NORM?

Objective. To study the quantitative characteristics of the vaginal microbiota in a healthy woman for the introduction of molecular genetic studies of the qualitative and quantitative composition of vaginal biocenosis into clinical practice. Subjects and methods. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction with «Femoflor» was used to study the qualitative and quantitative composition of vaginal biocenosis in 604 clinically healthy women in different life periods. Results. Facultative anaerobic microorganisms (such as Staphylococci and Streptococci) were found to be much less common than obligate anaerobes. Every five clinically healthy women of reproductive age were found to have Ureaplasma in a quantity of more than 104 per ml. Yeast-like fungi were detected in a quantity of more than 104 per ml in 10% of the reproductive-age women without clinical signs of vaginal dysbiotic processes. By taking into account the absence of any clinical signs of inflammation or discomfort, this condition can be considered as a variant of normal biocenosis. The authors show it unacceptable to interpret vaginal biocenosis in old-age group women in the context of its normal characteristics in reproductive-age women. Conclusion. The high sensitivity of polymerase chain reaction permits identification of even insignificant amount of microorganisms that comprise vaginal biocenosis.

vaginal microflora, polymerase chain reaction, clinically healthy women, pregnancy, menopause