Tank culture from the cervical canal reveals what. Bacterial culture from the cervical canal

Tank seeding from cervical canal - it's simple and available method determination of microorganisms living in the cervical canal. It is prescribed only when a vaginal smear shows a poor result and there is increased amount leukocytes.

It is especially important for pregnant women to take the test, because they are responsible for the health of the fetus developing in their body.

This analysis helps to recognize the causative agents of dangerous diseases, count their number and decide on an antibiotic that can be used to cope with the disease.

What is the cervical canal and what is its significance?

The external one is usually examined by a gynecologist using medical instruments. nulliparous women have a dotted pharynx. And those who gave birth have a slit-like pharynx.

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Smooth channel pale pink typical for young people healthy women. And during menopause, the mucous membrane is very pale, and almost no secretion is produced.

IN female vagina available great amount various microorganisms and fungi. And the uterus somehow remains sterile. A similar situation is possible thanks to the cervical canal. After all, in its walls there are many cells responsible for the production of special protective mucus.

At the very beginning and after the end menstrual cycle mucus from the cervical canal has an acidic environment. The mucus from the cervical canal is very viscous and blocks the passage like a plug.

Harmful microorganisms die in this acidic environment. And spermatozoa in such an environment become incapable of fertilization. can be determined by stretching the mucus; the longer the thread, the more hormones in the body.

Already in the middle monthly cycle The estrogen level increases significantly, and the mucus becomes thin and alkaline. And sperm gain access to the eggs of the uterus.

My personal story

With premenstrual pain and unpleasant discharge, it's over!

Our reader Egorova M.A. shared her experience:

It's scary when women don't know the real reason their diseases, because problems with the menstrual cycle can be harbingers of serious gynecological diseases!

The norm is a cycle lasting 21-35 days (usually 28 days), accompanied by menstruation lasting 3-7 days with moderate blood loss without clots. Alas, the state gynecological health our women are simply catastrophic, every second woman has some kind of problem.

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Controversy surrounding analysis

Expectant mothers are wary of bacterial analysis. After all, the brush is inserted deep into the vagina and a smear is taken from the cervical canal. But taking a smear test cannot lead to a miscarriage.

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The study is completely safe, but it is prescribed only when absolutely necessary. When assessing the state of the vaginal microflora, gynecologists use a special concept - the degree of purity.

There are 4 degrees of vaginal smear purity:

If a vaginal smear indicates problems, and the degree of purity is 3 or 4, then pregnant women are additionally prescribed a culture test from the cervical canal.

A normal culture of a pregnant woman should contain only beneficial microorganisms: lacto and bifido. Not allowed a large number of coli. There should be no yeast or bacteria present.

If detected increased content dangerous microorganisms, treatment is necessary. Good result gives therapy for early stages pregnancy.

Indicators are normal

The canal is populated by various microorganisms; it cannot be completely sterile. Lysozyme contained in the secretion of the canal has an antimicrobial effect.

Beneficial bacteria must be present in the cervix. But just one harmful bacteria, for example, staphylococcus indicates an infection and the need for treatment.

The composition of the microflora depends on:

on the age of the woman;
presence of infection;
hormonal levels;
taking antibiotics;
various pathologies.

The analysis provides data on the microorganisms inhabiting the cervix. Normal indicator must not contain any fungi or bacteria.

However, there must be beneficial bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, but not less than 10.7. Indicators of E. coli – 10.2 enterococci. White blood cells are normal up to 30. Flat epithelium– 5-10. There should be a moderate amount of mucus.

Pathological is a condition in which a large number of E. coli, gonococci, yeast fungi, staphylococci, and trichomonas are found. This analysis is not able to detect chlamydia and ureaplasma.

Decoding the results

The gynecologist interprets the results obtained from the laboratory. The analysis shows the name of the microorganisms inhabiting the cervix, as well as one of the 4 levels of cleanliness of the canal.

There are 4 levels of channel purity:

The first two degrees indicate contamination of the canal, and the third and fourth degrees indicate inflammatory processes.

And the reasons for the increased number of bacteria in the cervix are decreased immunity, hormonal imbalances, taking antibiotics, hereditary diseases, poor hygiene, infection during sexual intercourse, infection due to medical procedures.

Tank culture for the presence of bacteria can also determine sensitivity to various antibiotics. In a cup with nutrient medium bacteria are placed whose sensitivity needs to be determined. Discs soaked in antibiotics are placed on the surface of the medium.

This antibiotic penetrates the environment and affects the growth of microorganisms. The bowl should stand for some time at room temperature, and then it is placed in a thermostat for several hours.

After the required amount of time has passed, the diameter of the growth inhibition zone is measured and the suppression of bacterial growth is assessed:

no stunting indicates bacterial resistance to the drug;
zone diameter up to 1.5 cm– weak reaction, low effectiveness of the product;
zone diameter from 1.5 to 2.5 cm– moderate sensitivity;
diameter greater than 2.5 cm– hypersensitivity to antibiotics.

It is important to determine sensitivity to antibiotics, because different women Bacteria react differently to certain medications. You cannot prescribe medications based only on textbook recommendations. It is necessary to find out which antibiotic can cope with the disease.

Is there a difference between tank culture and smear cytology?

- This is a scraping from the cervical canal for microflora. It can only detect fungi and bacteria.

Tank culture analysis is important method diagnostics various diseases. The study is recommended for all women who have been diagnosed with vaginal discharge that is uncharacteristic of healthy flora. The method is completely safe during pregnancy, but the collection of biomaterial should be done very carefully.

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Medical tests and studies play a big role in diagnosing various diseases. Many diseases do not produce any symptoms, and only laboratory test cells under a microscope can reveal infection or the presence pathological changes in tissues. That is why all women aged 19 to 65 years old must be seen by a gynecologist for analysis.

How is a cervical smear taken?

One of the simplest, but no less important gynecological tests is a smear from the cervical canal. It is performed for every woman reproductive age, who came for a preventive appointment with a gynecologist during a routine examination on the chair. A smear is a scraping from the cervical canal, which is then sent for cytological examination to the laboratory. The latter is usually carried out using one of two methods: biological material is examined under a microscope or bacteriological culture is done. Cytology of a smear from the cervical canal makes it possible to judge the state of the microflora, and also helps to identify inflammatory processes and even oncological changes in the cervix.

A cytological smear from the cervical canal is not painful or scary at all. The doctor simply carefully takes the scraping with a special spatula, and then transfers it to a clean glass slide. This process takes literally a few seconds. Analysis is the basis for the prevention of many women's diseases, so you need to prepare for it: at least a day before going to the doctor, sexual intercourse, douching, the use of vaginal suppositories, pills, etc. are not recommended, otherwise the analysis will be uninformative. In addition, a cervical smear test should not be performed during menstruation.

Deciphering a smear from the cervical canal

In the table below you see the indicators by which the doctor deciphers this analysis. This is the presence or absence of leukocytes, gonococci, trichomonas, yeast fungi and other norms in a smear from the cervical canal. The Latin letters V, C and U stand for the vagina, cervix and urethra, respectively (those tissues where certain microorganisms were or were not found).

The following facts indicate a deviation from the norm:

a large number of leukocytes, mucus or epithelium (inflammation);
lack of epithelium (lack of estrogen hormone);
presence of gram-negative rods ();
gonococci();
trichomonas (trichomoniasis);
chlamydia (chlamydia);
yeast mushrooms(candidiasis);
key cells (vaginal candidiasis).

There is also a Papanicolaou reading option - it helps identify cervical pathologies, including precancerous conditions. There are 5 stages:

In more than 20% of cases, the results of this cytological examination are false. This happens when outdated methods are imperfect. Therefore, if you doubt the reliability of the result of a smear from the cervical canal, you can retake it or ask your doctor about colposcopy - a detailed examination of the cervix, which provides expanded information about possible pathologies, which are not noticeable during normal inspection.

Women's health requires a lot of attention, since the weaker sex is entrusted with such an important reproductive function.

That is why regular examinations and consultations, delivery general analyzes and own increased attention to everything that happens in the body should be present in the life of every woman.

This category also includes bacterial culture from the cervical canal. Many, however, do not quite understand why this is needed. And what of what he can show is not available gynecological examination or ultrasound examination.

But as practice suggests, only bacterial culture can highlight the whole picture of the microflora of the cervix and help discover the cause of a particular ailment.

Availability is also an undoubted advantage this study, its painlessness, ease of implementation and reasonable cost. After all, you won’t even need to go to the laboratory: your gynecologist will perform the procedure, and at the next examination he will announce the results. Then a diagnosis will be made and adequate treatment will be prescribed. Why is treatment necessary? Because this is not an ordinary procedure and it is prescribed only by observing the less-than-ideal indicators of smears “for cleanliness”...

- this is the same smear, but it is taken from the canal that connects the cervix and vagina. Thus, its indicators are “clean” and provide reliable information about the state of the microflora of the cervical area.

Since this type of study is not included in the preventive group, indications are required for it. Namely, an increased number of leukocytes in an ordinary smear. If they are found in the cervical area, this indicates possible diseases from a number of endometritis/adnexitis/other inflammatory processes and the need for their immediate treatment.

And given the fact that pathogens similar ailments are pathogenic microorganisms(fungi, E. coli, enterobacteria) that quickly adapt to medications, it is impossible to do without antibiotics. But it is not so easy to select them without proper examination.

The “functions” of bacterial culture from the cervix also include the study sensitivity to antibiotics and selection of the most effective of them to eliminate the detected disease.

Norm of indicators

Is it worth saying that the microflora of the cervical canal cannot be sterile? That is, it is in any case inhabited by microorganisms. The only question is how pathogenic they are and at what speed they grow and multiply.

First of all, it is necessary to exclude the presence mushrooms. Their presence, in any case, is not normal and requires immediate antibacterial intervention.

No less undesirable enterococci and Escherichia coli, which also indicate an inflammatory process in genitourinary system. But, unlike mushrooms, their single indicators (for E. coli the limit is 10²) are allowed and do not pose a threat to women’s health.

The same cannot be said about staphylococci, gonococci, trichomonas, leptothrix and other harmful microorganisms. Even their lonely representatives are capable of disrupting the healthy balance of microflora, which will certainly affect women's health. And, possibly, the health of the child, if the woman was pregnant at the time of the examination.

A completely different situation is observed with lacto- and bifidobacteria. Their presence is precisely a variant of the norm and, in the absence of an inflammatory process, should be at least 10 to the 7th degree.

Decoding the analysis results

If you don't have medical education, and especially not competent in analyses, leave their decoding to a friend specialist. After all, this is not the case when outside information sources will come to your aid. And if they come, then nothing but broken peace of mind they won't bring it.

First of all, because results– these are not just numbers that can be compared with “generally accepted norms”. These are your personal individual microflora indicators. And even a slight “deviation” may be absolutely normal for you, taking into account many factors.

But what then is not included in the norm?

And those results are not included in which bacterial culture detected pathogenic bacteria that are in the growth stage and are actively developing. Moreover, the most important stage of their development is considered to be:

First stage demonstrates the slow growth of microorganisms that has been observed in their liquid habitat.
Second stage indicates the proliferation of bacteria already on a hard surface, but only up to 10 colonies.
Third stage means an increase in the number of colonies from 10 to 100 and indicates the presence of an inflammatory process.
Fourth stage exceeds 100 on solid media.

Reasons for similar violations very diverse and relate to both hormonal levels and condition immune system, personal hygiene and related ailments.

Tank seeding during pregnancy

Often this test is prescribed during the patient’s pregnancy, which justifiably raises her doubts about the safety of this procedure.

But in order not to panic, it will be enough to have basic knowledge of the structure of the small pelvis and possible changes caused by interesting situation. It's about O color of the cervical canal in the early stages: it takes on a bluish tint, which helps determine the presence of a fertilized embryo. Don't forget also about mucus plug, which is formed in this very cervical canal and reliably protects the entrance to the uterus in which your baby grows and develops. She protects from pathogenic microorganisms, which can be detected during bacterial culture.

But, since the plug comes off on the eve of childbirth, it is still worth treating the failure of the microflora during pregnancy. What can we say about isthmic cervical insufficiency, in which the cervix cannot withstand the pressure and begins to open already in the middle of the second trimester.

Against this background, it may develop cervicitis (inflammatory process in the cervical canal), and, in the absence adequate therapy, this is a direct threat to bearing the baby.

How to prepare for analysis?

First of all, it is worth understanding do you need This:

Are you planning a pregnancy?
Have you been diagnosed with an inflammatory process in the cervix?
A normal smear revealed coccal flora and an increased number of leukocytes?
Do you often worry about gynecological diseases?

If you answered yes to at least one question, you should take a smear for bacterial culture from the cervical canal.

This procedure is painless and only requires you to undress and lie down on gynecological chair. And the doctor, using a sterile probe mirror, will quickly take a smear, after placing it in a test tube with a special medium.

All that remains is to wait for the results, which will be ready in at least a few days.

Is it worth it prepare to collect material? It’s difficult to call this preparation, but you still need to take into account a few rules:

Before the procedure itself, you cannot perform genital hygiene, douche, or use any vaginal medications.
You should abstain from sexual activity for a day.
Antibiotics are excluded when taking tests of this kind. IN extreme cases, you should warn your doctor about this.

Don't forget also about menses: during it and for several days after, no smears are taken.

Price for research

Unlike a regular vaginal smear, a tank culture from the cervical canal implies detailed study microflora. And, most often, this procedure is paid.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to give the exact cost of the analysis, since it depends only on the price list of the laboratories available to you. On average, the price range ranges from 400 to 1500 thousand rubles. At the same time, you can choose where your biomaterial is processed. Although, often doctors long time cooperate with the same laboratory, and your analysis will be sent there. Therefore, the announced amount will not be discussed.

However, if you are not satisfied with the cost of collecting the prescribed bacterial culture, you will probably still be given the opportunity to choose another test processing network. But, on the other hand, this may make it difficult to decipher the results obtained, since they will need to be compared with existing ones. And, preferably, they should be from the same laboratory.

Due to the features anatomical structure representatives of the fairer sex have to undergo various gynecological examinations of their bodies.

If ultrasound, smear and standard manual examination are considered routine tests performed during the next visit to the doctor, then seeding from the cervical canal mucosa becomes a new procedure for many.

The collection of biological material is a painless procedure and does not take much time, but the diagnosis itself is not carried out urgently.

Bacteriological examination of the composition of the microflora of the cervical canal is carried out within 3-5 days. Diagnostics does not apply to tests performed by cito (urgent analysis), and also requires certain laboratory conditions for the cultivation and subsequent study of microorganisms that make up the mucus.

What is bacteriological culture?

Sowing from the cervical canal in women for flora is a procedure that involves collecting secretions lining the mucous membrane of the inside of the cervix. The cervical canal is a passage connecting the uterine cavity and vagina. The main function of this segment is the transport and secretion of mucus.

By doing bacteriological culture The contents of the cervix are collected with a sterile spatula. In the future, this material is sent for research.

For several days, the microflora is kept in conditions favorable for bacterial growth. After a few days, the quantitative content and type of microorganisms obtained are assessed.

When unnatural flora is detected, sensitivity to antibiotics is established. Manipulation allows you to select effective treatments medicines.

Indications and purposes of the procedure

Bacterial culture of microflora from the cervical canal is carried out when planning any interventions in the uterine cavity or for the purpose of prevention. Indications for its implementation are:

Pregnancy or planning for it;
Preparing for childbirth;
Preparation for hysteroscopy;
Gynecological curettage (therapeutic or diagnostic);
Infectious and inflammatory processes in the vaginal cavity (when the number of leukocytes in the cervical area exceeds the norm);
Recurrent infectious or inflammatory diseases pelvic organs.

The main goal of diagnosis is to identify pathogenic microorganisms inhabiting the cervical cavity and eliminate them by effective treatment. The study allows you to stop the infectious-inflammatory process and prevent it from spreading to the uterine cavity and appendages.

In the process of studying mature microorganisms, pathogenic or conditionally pathogenic microorganisms, as well as mucous impurities, can be detected.

Not all pathogenic microorganisms can be identified by bacteriological research. Some subtypes require polymerase chain reaction. Therefore, if there is inflammation in the vagina, but there are no bacteria in the cervical canal, pathology cannot be ruled out.

Bacteriological culture during pregnancy: why is it done?

Every pregnant woman will have to take a microflora test, and some more than once. Diagnostics must be carried out upon registration in the first 12 weeks. It helps to determine the condition of the cervical canal mucosa, and if pathologies are detected, carry out treatment.

The main danger of the presence of infections in the cervix is infection of the membranes. Inflammation can also cause cervical insufficiency and other complications during pregnancy.

Before childbirth, manipulation is prescribed to those patients whose smear shows elevated white blood cells, and there are also cells atypical for this area.

Often, pregnant women are afraid to undergo a smear test, worrying that the intervention could harm the pregnancy. This myth should be dispelled, because refusal to perform diagnostics can lead to serious consequences. more harm new state.

The procedure for collecting biological fluid from the cervix is carried out with a thin spatula, which is inserted to a depth of no more than 5-15 mm. The tool does not even reach the middle of the canal to cause any disturbance. Therefore, tank culture from the cervical canal can and should be done during pregnancy.

Preparing for diagnosis

The patient should prepare for the test. To do this, you must follow the rules within 24 hours:

Do not douche;
Avoid sexual intercourse, especially without a condom;
Do not use vaginal suppositories, including contraceptives;
Avoid tampons and other hygiene products inserted into the vagina.

If the woman was previously given a smear, then a smear is taken no earlier than 2 days later.

Why can’t you use drugs that affect the vaginal microflora before the examination?

It is recommended to avoid the use of antibiotics several days before the procedure. hormonal drugs And antifungal drugs. They can influence quantitative composition microflora of the cervical canal and vagina. In this case, the results obtained will be unreliable.

If a woman is treated with antibiotics or other agents that affect the microflora, then it is necessary to reschedule the day of bacteriological culture. It should be remembered that antimicrobial drugs cannot be stopped prematurely, otherwise they will be ineffective.

In order for the diagnosis to be reliable and the treatment to be completed completely, it is necessary to individually agree with the gynecologist on the time of the manipulation.

Interpretation of results

The culture results are given to the patient in 3-5 days. The data received is deciphered by a doctor. You should not try to interpret the quantitative values of various microorganisms on your own. Some of them can normally inhabit the mucous membrane of the cervical canal, which does not require treatment.

In healthy patients, beneficial flora predominates in the smear, which consists of lactobacilli in quantities no less 107 . Escherichia coli and enterococci may also be present, but they do not have active growth and are determined by the quantity 102 .

An unfavorable diagnostic result is indicated by the detection of the following microorganisms in a smear:

Escherichia coli;
Enterococci;
Yeast-like fungi;
Staphylococcus;
Proteus;
Trichomonas;
Gonococci;
Gardnerellas;
Leptothrix and others.

Particular attention is paid to patients whose smear contains diphtheroids. They indicate vaginal dysbiosis and require immediate treatment. Effective drugs are selected for each type of microorganism colony individually.

Bacterial culture, or tank for short. Sowing, by its name, implies the cultivation of microflora of bacteria of the human body in an external specialized environment for further analysis. Such a study shows what types of microorganisms are present in the microflora, their number and viability.

In gynecology tank. culture is one of the main tests, which is carried out both for preventive purposes and as prescribed. Let's look at it in more detail.

Why is the study prescribed?

The female genital organs are the habitat of many beneficial bacteria(mainly lactobacilli) and microorganisms that maintain internal balance and the necessary acidic environment, acting as a barrier to viruses and infections.

But sometimes, due to a number of factors, there are more pathogenic representatives of the flora than beneficial microorganisms, and a woman begins to notice certain unpleasant symptoms, an inflammatory process occurs, which may be the beginning of a more serious disease.

Tank. vaginal seeding makes it possible to determine the composition of the microflora, and in the case of the presence of pathogenic microbes, various viruses and mushrooms, prescribe appropriate treatment. The need to identify a specific type of microorganism is explained by the fact that each of them is vulnerable to a certain medicinal product and antibiotic.

Thus, the main purpose of the tank. culture in gynecology - identifying the presence and type of harmful bacteria in quantities higher than permissible, which cause diseases and inflammation, in order to prescribe proper and timely treatment.

It should be noted that a small number of some are allowed in the cervical canal (vagina). pathogenic organisms, for example, E. coli. This is due to female physiology, which determines the proximity anus to the vagina.

For any tank. crops are used biological fluids the human body from a certain area (saliva, sputum, feces, urine, etc.). In gynecology, for these purposes, a smear is taken from the cervical canal in a certain way.

The entire procedure is quick and painless. As during a regular examination, a gynecological speculum is inserted into the vagina, and the doctor uses a special brush to remove the required layer of mucus from the surface of the walls. Next, the contents are placed in a prepared test tube, which provides sealing and a certain nutrient medium.

To obtain reliable and accurate results it is necessary to transfer the material to the laboratory within the next few hours after collection, since the growth and reproduction of bacteria requires warmth and constant maintenance favorable conditions. You can find out more by reading our new article.

Analysis results

The test results are prepared approximately 5-6 days after taking a smear. During this period, all microorganisms present will grow in sufficient quantity and size for research. In approximately a week, you will be able to get a report from the gynecologist on the tank you passed. sowing

Such a study of biomaterial shows the presence of each type of microorganism, as well as their quantity. If no pathogenic microorganisms are identified, but the number of beneficial bacteria is below normal, special means, normalizing the vaginal microflora. The lack of beneficial microorganisms further leads to infections and inflammations caused by various pathogens. The main beneficial representatives of the cervical canal are lactobacilli and bifidobacteria.

The pathogenic environment is determined by the following commonly detected microorganisms:

Standard results tank. crops are characterized by assigned degrees of purity of the cervical canal. There are four of them, depending on the number of people present. pathogenic bacteria. The number of the latter is marked by colonies - separate areas of accumulations of their cells.

The analysis is considered negative in the absence of any type of “bad” microorganism, and positive if at least a minimal number of them is detected in the biological material.

Each degree of bacterial growth has its own characteristics:

Inflammatory and infectious processes begin to develop from the third degree bacterial growth. This will also be evidenced by an exceeded normal limit for the leukocytes contained. In this case, immediate and suitable treatment, in accordance with the identified family of the main infectious agent.

It is the determination of the sensitivity of microorganisms to specific antibiotic drugs is an undoubted advantage of the tank. sowing

Indications and preparation for the test

It is necessary to submit material for analysis following a number of rules that contribute to obtaining an accurate and reliable result.

These include:

Failure to comply with at least one of the above conditions can significantly distort the final data of the bacteriological study. From the outside medical personnel must also be respected established standards collecting material onto the tank. sowing:

The main indications for this type of analysis are:

Availability chronic diseases genitals;
frequent infectious and inflammatory processes;
annual scheduled examination for preventive purposes;
pregnancy planning, as well as its first trimester;
appearance of disturbing and obvious symptoms (heavy discharge, pain, menstrual irregularities, etc.);
postpartum care;
long-term therapy of gynecological diseases.

Harmful bacteria can multiply when certain factors occur, both individually and in combination. Among them are:

All this contributes to the entry and active reproduction of pathogenic bacteria, which can lead to serious problems with health in the absence of proper and timely treatment.