A study on microbiome diversity and antibiotic sensitivity pattern of vaginopathogens at gestation time in a tertiary care hospital

Gopal U, Lekshmi and Vijayan, Devapriya and Vandhana, G and Arjun, Akhila S and Nair, Chitra C and Beena, P (2025) A study on microbiome diversity and antibiotic sensitivity pattern of vaginopathogens at gestation time in a tertiary care hospital. World Journal of Biology Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 21 (2). pp. 276-287. ISSN 2582-5542

A six-month study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in Kerala, India, to analyse the microbiome diversity and antibiotic sensitivity pattern of vaginopathogens in 75 pregnant women. Vaginal swabs were collected and sent for microbiological evaluation. Pregnancy causes significant changes in the vaginal microbiota, which plays a crucial role in protecting both the mother and foetus from infections. Case records were reviewed for age, presenting complaints, laboratory results, diagnostic reports, and therapeutic management. Out of 75 vaginal swab samples, 22 tested positives for bacterial growth, identifying 32 bacterial strains, which were classified into 9 distinct species. Klebsiella species were the most prevalent (21.8%), followed by coagulase-negative staphylococci (18.7%), beta-haemolytic streptococci (15.6%), and E. coli (12.5%). This study highlights the need for vigilant monitoring and targeted antibiotic therapy to optimize maternal and neonatal outcomes while addressing the growing challenge of antibiotic resistance.