In some cases, it is almost impossible to diagnose a disease if a smear on the flora is not given. The norm, or the correct quantitative ratio of microorganisms, indicates that nothing threatens human health at the moment. But if the analysis revealed the presence of pathogenic or excessive growth of conditionally pathogenic microbial agents, then this is a very sharp reason to suspect the development of inflammatory infectious diseases. Depending on the nature of the disease, a smear on the flora can be taken from the vagina, ureter, pharynx and nose.
Indications for a vaginal smear
This analysis is prescribed only after examination by a gynecologist. The woman’s complaints about menstrual irregularities or the occurrence of pain in the lower abdomen, as well as the condition of the female genital organs, the presence of redness, itching or nonspecific discharge are taken into account. You also need to know that a smear on the flora from the vagina without fail surrenders after prolonged use of antibiotics. This is done with preventive purposes in order to diagnose the occurrence of candidiasis in time. Decoding of smears on the flora should be done exclusively by a doctor. It is strictly not recommended to do this on your own, and even more so to prescribe any medications to yourself based on the result of the analysis. This can contribute to further disruption of the balance of normal microflora and the development of inflammatory processes.
How to prepare for a vaginal smear?
If a woman systematically notes the appearance of pain in the lower abdomen, itching, discharge with an unpleasant odor from the vagina, then she needs to consult a gynecologist and pass a smear on the flora. Where to pass this analysis is not important, it is much more important to properly prepare for it. Two days, it is necessary to observe several conditions guaranteeing more reliable results.
First of all, it is necessary to refrain from sexual intercourse. It is also forbidden to use various vaginal tablets and suppositories. You can not carry out any douching and even take a bath. A swab from the vagina does not give up during menstruation. On the day of the visit to the gynecologist, it is necessary to wash only with water, without using detergents, including gels. Do not urinate a few hours before the test.
Smear on the flora from the vagina
If you need to know about the quantitative and qualitative composition of the normal microflora of the vagina, then you need to pass a smear. This determines the presence of pathogenic, that is,
pathogenic, bacteria and fungi on the mucous membranes of the female genital organs. You can also learn about the percentage of groups of microbes and its displacement in one direction or another. This is very important, since it is in the imbalance that lies the main reason for the change in the pH of the vaginal environment. Normally, it is acidic, but if broken, it can become alkaline, and this is a high risk of developing an infection. In addition, a smear on the flora can give a complete picture of the number
of opportunistic microorganisms . The norm of the condition of the vaginal mucosa, of course, provides for their presence. But there should be very few of them. In a healthy woman, as a result of analysis on the flora, 95% of lactobacilli are detected. The remaining 5% falls on opportunistic cocci and rods. Violation of this balance can cause emotional overstrain, depression, physical overwork, acute inflammation and pregnancy. Extraneous microflora and an alkaline or slightly acidic environment of the vagina will testify to the development of the disease.
Smear for hidden venereal and urogenital infections
Many diseases, especially sexually transmitted diseases, can manifest themselves only in the last stages, so only a smear on the flora can help to find them. The norm of this analysis completely eliminates the presence of pathogenic bacteria. In addition, many diseases give a similar clinical picture. In order to properly prescribe treatment, it is necessary to establish the pathogen. A swab from a vagina for hidden infections can give accurate results, even if the number of pathogens is small. This analysis has several advantages. Firstly, it accurately shows the species of the pathogen up to the strain. Secondly, this analysis is done very quickly and painlessly. Thirdly, a smear on the latent pathogenic flora can reveal viruses, and not antibodies to them.
This research method is sometimes the only one for detecting infectious diseases with a hidden course. Thanks to this, many sexually transmitted diseases can be diagnosed in the early stages of development, which allows for the most effective treatment.
Decoding of smears on the flora should be carried out by a doctor. If there is any doubt about the accuracy of the analysis, then a second examination is prescribed. It is advisable to take smears in one medical institution. So it will be easier to track the causes of different indicators in the results. The doctor is also better not to change. Sexually transmitted diseases are treated with fairly serious drugs, so if you have already started a course of antibiotics, then go through it to the end. The causative agents of genital infections are most often invasive, so it is easy for them to hide their presence in the body. After completing the course of taking the drugs, it will be necessary to undergo a second examination, the obtained transcript of the smears on the flora will show whether the treatment was effective.
Designation on test forms
Receiving the result of the analysis in their hands, many cannot resist and calm down their curiosity, and try to decipher it themselves. But, as a rule, instead of a clear answer, they see a lot of unfamiliar abbreviations and letters. So what do they mean?
So, in order for the decoding of smears on the flora to be at least a little clearer, you must first understand these abbreviations. Firstly, they literally indicate the places where the analysis was taken from: v - vagina, c - cervical canal and u - urethra. These symbols will stand in front of numbers that indicate what was found on the mucous membranes in these parts of the body. The letter L indicates white blood cells. They will be found both in the norm and in pathologies, but the difference will be visible in their number.
The abbreviation "Ep" means the epithelium, in some cases, "Pl. Ep "(squamous epithelium). The causative agents of gonorrhea and trichomoniasis will be indicated by the letters "Gn" and "Trich", respectively. In addition, mucus can be detected in the analysis, which determines the pH of the vaginal environment. A woman will have mixed flora in the smear. These are sticks and cocci. Their number can be indicated by numbers or pluses “+”. Well, if some kind of microorganism is not found, then write the abbreviation "abs". Depending on the amount of a particular microbe, put a certain number of "+". Only 4 categories. The minimum amount of pathogen is indicated by one “+”, the maximum, respectively, “++++”.
What is coccal flora?
All bacteria are divided in shape into three large groups: spherical, rod-shaped and crimped. All of them can normally be found in the microflora of the vagina. But spherical bacteria, that is, cocci, include pathogens of inflammatory diseases. These are diplococci, streptococci and staphylococci. To determine their quantitative content, and take a smear on the flora. The norm of analysis allows their presence. But these must be single bacteria. The risk of developing an inflammatory disease caused by conditionally pathogenic coccal flora increases with a decrease in the body's protective immune forces.
A smear on the flora from the vagina during pregnancy
Each woman has an individual vaginal microflora. Its formation is affected by the state of immunity and previous urogenital and sexually transmitted infections. Normally, women find 95% of lactobacilli, which form an acidic pH in the vagina. Conditionally pathogenic coccobacillary flora in the smear occupies the remaining 5%, it does not cause disease, but quite “peacefully” coexists in the body. But under certain conditions, the pH of the medium can change, and then the risk of developing an infection increases.
Flora may vary due to various reasons. This is a decrease in immunity, and a long intake of antibiotics, and acute inflammatory diseases, as well as pregnancy. When fertilization occurs, the hormonal background in a woman’s body changes dramatically. Estrogens almost cease to be produced, but the level of progesterone increases significantly. This, of course, helps preserve and support the developing fetus, but it can upset the balance of the environment. To prevent the development of a pregnant woman of such unpleasant diseases as gardnerellosis, vaginosis and candidiasis, a smear on the flora is prescribed. The results of this analysis indicate the "purity" of the birth canal. The causative agents of these infections loosen the walls of the vagina. This increases the likelihood of mucosal ruptures during labor.
What should not be in the analysis of a smear from the vagina?
In order for a woman to feel confident, the correct balance of microorganisms must be in her body. Otherwise, she will constantly experience discomfort, which will certainly affect her life. A smear on the flora in women is taken if there are complaints of itching, burning, pain in the lower abdomen, discharge with an unpleasant odor. All these are symptoms of inflammatory diseases. So, what microorganisms should not be normal in a smear? Upon receipt of the result of the analysis, you must make sure that the following pathogens are absent:
- Gardnerella. This is a pathogenic bacillus flora in a smear. In a healthy woman, these microbes can be detected, but only in small quantities. With a decrease in immunity, they begin to multiply actively, bacterial vaginosis develops. The presence of a large number of gardnerella can also indicate vaginal dysbiosis.
- Candida. This conditionally pathogenic fungus is normally present on the genital mucosa in almost all women. It can exist quite “peacefully” in our body without showing its presence. But as soon as the reaction of the medium changes to slightly acidic or alkaline, candida begins to multiply. As a result, the disease develops candidiasis, or, in the people - thrush. It is not difficult to diagnose this pathology, it is enough to pass a smear. In the active form of the disease, fungal filaments are found, in the latent - spores. As a rule, candida increase their numbers in violation of the hormonal background and a decrease in the body's immune forces.
Conditionally pathogenic cocci in a smear
Of course, these are far from all microorganisms, the presence of which on a woman’s vaginal mucosa should at least alert the doctor. The coccobacillary flora in the smear deserves special attention. These are primarily pathogenic diplococci, streptococci and staphylococci. Detect them in a smear can be extracellular. Only pathogens of a sexually transmitted disease gonorrhea parasitize inside the cells of the body.
So, what microorganisms should not be in a smear in a healthy woman? Firstly, this is gonococcus - a gram-negative spherical bacterium. It refers to diplococci. The causative agents of gonorrhea are intracellular parasites, they quickly die in the environment in the fresh air. In the latent form of the disease, it can be difficult to detect them. But only the detection of infection in the early stages guarantees a quick and successful treatment. Otherwise, the disease becomes chronic.
In addition to gonococcus, a woman should not have Staphylococcus aureus in the smear. But, as statistics show, about 20% of the world's population are carriers of this pathogen of purulent-inflammatory diseases. These are both men and women.
In addition, streptococcus can be found on the vaginal mucosa. This spherical gram-positive bacterium lives in the large intestine and in the upper respiratory tract. But, getting into the vagina, she does not behave so harmlessly. If streptococcus in large quantities is detected in a pregnant woman, then it can provoke a miscarriage, premature birth and fetal death. Therefore, timely analysis of the smear on the flora is so important. Deciphering it can help prevent a number of pathological complications. The presence of enterococcus in the smear may indicate an inflammatory process in the genitourinary system. These bacteria are part of the normal intestinal microflora. But in some cases, they penetrate into neighboring systems and cause inflammation. Most often it is the ureter, bladder and female internal genital organs.
A smear on the flora in men
A bacteriological smear from the urethra in men for the flora is taken in order to detect hidden infections. This analysis helps to detect pathogenic microflora that cause inflammatory diseases. Using a smear from the urethra, you can diagnose diseases such as urethritis, prostatitis. But more often it is used to identify pathogens of sexually transmitted infections. For this, a smear on the flora is also taken from the urethra. Leukocytes detected as a result of the analysis are direct evidence indicating an inflammatory process that accompanies gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, ureaplasmosis. Of course, based solely on the results of a bacteriological smear, a final diagnosis cannot be established. Therefore, additional microbiological studies, including PCR diagnostics, are often prescribed. This is the only way to accurately detect developing sexually transmitted diseases in the early stages.
How is a smear taken from the urethra in men?
A smear on the flora in men is taken from the urethra. This procedure is carried out using a special probe, which is injected to a depth of 3 centimeters. Of course, the collection of material in this way causes unpleasant pain. Often there is slight discomfort and burning in the area of the glans penis after analysis. But after a few hours it completely disappears. In some cases, the doctor may insist on massage of the prostate or urethra before taking a smear. This is not necessary for everyone, but only for those patients who have an exacerbation of the inflammatory process.
But, regardless of the condition of the man, the purity of the smear on the flora largely depends on the preparation for analysis. Two days before taking material for research, you need to refrain from sexual intercourse. Genital hygiene should be performed the night before before analysis. In the morning on the day of taking the smear, the penis does not need to be washed. Before introducing the probe, it is advisable not to urinate for at least two hours.
Decoding smear results in men
If a man has complaints of burning, pain and discharge from the urethra, he needs to see a doctor and pass a smear on the flora. The leukocyte norm in case of inflammation will be exceeded several times. These cells of the immune system are a direct indicator of the development of pathology. In men, the presence of leukocytes in the urethra is allowed, but only in very small quantities. Normally, this indicator should range from 0 to 5. If these cells were found several times more, that is, a reason to suspect urethritis or prostatitis.
Another indicator that will be present as a result of the analysis is the epithelial cells. They line the inner surface of the urethra and are therefore always present in the smear. Their norm is from 5 to 10. If the number of epithelial cells is increased, then this indicates the development of an infectious disease. Small amounts of mucus are always found in the urethra. An increase in it also indicates inflammation. Of course, when conducting a smear, microflora is always paid attention to the presence of opportunistic cocci. Under certain conditions, streptococci, enterococci and staphylococci can cause the disease. If a large number of them are detected, then this indicates bacterial urethritis. In a separate group include gonococci. These are exclusively pathogenic microbes. They cause a sexually transmitted disease such as gonorrhea. Normally, they should not be.
Smear on the nose and throat flora
A swab from the nose and throat is a standard procedure for suspected infectious diseases such as diphtheria and whooping cough. Analysis from the mucous membrane of the posterior throat wall is also taken with angina. This is necessary in order to determine the sensitivity of the pathogen to the antibiotic. The result of a bacteriological smear can help to definitively make a diagnosis and determine not only the nature of the disease, but also establish the hidden carriage of a pathogenic microorganism. This is important for timely effective treatment and to prevent the further spread of airborne infection among the population.. - , . , «» . , . . - . , . .
Staphylococcal infection can manifest itself in different ways. In young children, pustular lesions of the skin and mucous membrane are most often detected. Based on the analysis, it is possible to identify not only staphylococci; conditionally pathogenic pneumococci and streptococci are also found. In addition, this research method is relevant for determining diphtheria bacillus in a smear on the flora. This analysis, unfortunately, is not fast, but it allows you to determine not only the type of pathogen, but also its strain.