BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY DURING PREGNANCY

Objective. To compare the antimicrobial activity of vaginal discharge with the nature of bacterial vaginosis, vaginal pH, and microbiological indicators. Subjects and methods. The investigation enrolled 53 pregnant women, of whom 34 were diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis and 19 were with normal vaginal microbiocenosis. The severity of bacterial vaginosis was estimated from the total scores using a combination of clinical symptoms: itching, burning, the nature and amount of discharge, pain during urination, dyspareunia, perianal dermatitis, swelling, hyperemia, and erosive lesions of the vaginal walls. Vaginal discharge samples were examined to determine the antimicrobial activity of the vaginal epithelium. The antibacterial activity of antimicrobial peptides was determined in the groups of pregnant women depending on the nature of clinical symptoms of bacterial vaginosis. Results. Production of the endogenous antibiotics antimicrobial peptides provides adequate protection against infectious agents. The lowered activity of antimicrobial peptides leads to a quantitative increase in the facultative vaginal microflora and to the depletion of the obligate microflora, which contributes to the more pronounced clinical course of bacterial vaginosis. Conclusion. To expand diagnostic parameters in the set of examinations of pregnant women with inflammatory and dysbiotic disorders in the lower reproductive tract, by including the indicators of systemic and local immunity along with microbiological monitoring and an integrated assessment of the vaginal microbiocenosis, will be able to personify therapeutic approaches for each individual patient.

bacterial vaginosis, pregnancy, antimicrobial peptides, vaginal microbiocenosis