Vaginal and Rectal Clostridium Sordellii and Clostridium Perfringens Presence Among Women in the US
- Published
- February 1st, 2016
- Type
- Publication
- Topic
- STIs, HIV, Infectious Disease
- Authors
- Chong, E., Winikoff, B., Charles, D., Agnew, K., Prentice, J.L., Limbago, B.M., Platais, I., Louie, K., Jones, H.E., Shannon, C.
Obstet Gynecol; 2016 Feb; 127(2): 360-8; doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000001239
This observational cohort study evaluated the presence of Clostridium sordellii and Clostridium perfingens of a diverse group of reproductive-aged women in the United States. The results of this study suggest that the chances are exceedingly small that a woman would have C sordelli present in the vagina, that the lethal toxin gene would be present in that particular strain, and that the bacteria would remain long enough for it to produce toxins. At baseline, recent gynecologic surgery was associated with C sordellii presence, whereas a high body mass index was associated with C perfringens presence. Based on the data, use of routine antibiotics at the time of medical abortion would likely not be effective at reducing the presence of clostridia or reducing clostridial infection.