Bacterial Profile of Vaginal Discharge among Apparently Healthy Female Students of Tansian University, Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

The human vaginal environment hosts a diverse microbiota that plays an essential role in maintaining mucosal health and preventing infections. Normal vaginal discharge is part of this defense mechanism; however, deviations in its appearance or volume may indicate an underlying pathological condition. This study aims at isolation and identification of bacteria associated with vaginal discharge from apparently healthy female students of Tansian University, Umunya, Anambra State, Nigeria. Twenty (20) vaginal samples were collected different students using sterile swab sticks. Each vaginal swab sample was inoculated onto Nutrient Agar plates using the streak plate method and incubated aerobically at 37°C for 24 hours. Colony morphology and pigmentation were recorded. The Gram reaction was performed on each isolate using Gram staining technique, and the result was recorded as Gram-positive or Gram-negative. The biochemical tests which include: catalase, coagulase, indole, citrate, oxidase, sugar fermentation, were also performed, using standard method by Cheesbrough (2012). The result was recorded as positive (+) or negative (-). The prevalence of infection was determined, and recorded in percent (%). The antibiotic susceptibility patterns of the bacterial isolates against nine commonly used antibiotics were determined. The results indicate varying levels of resistance and susceptibility. This study revealed that both commensal and opportunistic bacteria were present in the vaginal tracts of asymptomatic students. The emergence of a multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain highlights the urgent need for antibiotic stewardship and routine screening, even in apparently healthy individuals.