A Longitudinal Study of Actinomyces Israelii in the Female Genital Tract

A prospective longitudinal investigation was performed to study variations in the occurence of Actinomyces israeliiwith reference to four microorganisms, staphylococ-ci, E. coli, P. acnesand C. albicans, in the female genital tract. Fifteen healthy women were studied during all phases of the menstrual cycle. Sampling was made from the cervix, vagina and perineal area three times a week during two consecutive menstrual periods and during menstruation from napkins and tampons. Altogether 1 108 samples were taken on 349 sampling occasions for different cultural procedures. A. israelii was identified in all women, in varying frequencies (range 4 to 74% of sampling occasions). As a mean, A. israeliiwas recovered in 24% of the perineal samples, 13% of the vaginal and 6% of the cervical samples. The occurence of A. israelii was related neither to the recovery of reference microorganisms nor to the phase of the menstrual cycle, the amount of bleeding or discharge, the pH of the vaginal specimens, the contraceptiv...