A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY OF THE MICROBIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT OF THE GENITOURINARY TRACT IN HONG-KONG CHINESE WOMEN DURING PREGNANCY

Microbiological colonization of the genitourinary tract in pregnancy i s associated with an increased risk of preterm labour and delivery. In our population, the risk of preterm labour is relatively low, and the purpose of this study was to examine the microbiolocal environment of the genitourinary tract to determine whether it differed from that re ported in populations where the rate of preterm delivery is higher. A prospective study was made in 367 unselected women between 16 and 24 w eeks' gestation. Although the rate of colonization with Candida specie s was higher than in most other studies (30.2%), colonization with Gar dnerella, Group B Streptococcus, Trichomonas and Chlamydia was uncommo n (1.9%, 0.8%, 0.6% and 3.5% respectively). Significant bacteriuria wa s also uncommon, occurring in only 4.9% of cases. The results of this study confirmed a relatively low incidence of colonization of the geni tourinary tract in this population of women with a low incidence of pr eterm delivery. These findings suggest that low levels of colonization may be related to a low incidence of preterm delivery in our patients .