Prevalence of bacterial vaginosis, vulvovaginal candidiasis and trichomoniasis among pregnant women with special reference to chlamydial infection

Introduction: Vaginal infections are a common problem among pregnant women and can lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of vaginal infections among symptomatic and asymptomatic pregnant women in Odisha, India.Materials and Methods: A total of 200 pregnant women aged 21-35 years attending the antenatal clinic of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology department were included in the study. A performa was prepared to collect data on patient history, personal hygiene, and associated comorbidities. Three high vaginal swabs and 2 ml of blood were collected from each patient and sent to the microbiology laboratory. The prevalence of vaginal infections was determined by analyzing the samples.Results: Out of 200 samples processed, 30% were taken from symptomatic pregnant women and 70% were taken from asymptomatic pregnant women. The overall prevalence of vaginal infections was 59%. Vulvovaginal candidiasis (39%) was the most prevalent infection followed by bacterial vaginosis (30%). Mixed infection (VVC + BV) was found in 16% of the studied population. Chlamydial infection was found in 6% of the women. C. albicans (54%) was the predominant isolate, followed by C. tropicalis (28%). Adverse pregnancy outcomes noted in this study were preterm labor (5.9%) and premature rupture of membranes (2.54%). Vaginal infection had no significant association with adverse pregnancy outcome (P value = 0.971).Conclusion: This study highlights the high prevalence of vaginal infections among pregnant women in Odisha, India. The findings emphasize the need for routine screening and appropriate treatment of vaginal infections during pregnancy to prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes. Further studies with larger sample sizes and additional diagnostic methods are needed to confirm these findings.