Analysis of changes in the state of vaginal microflora in women of reproductive age under conditions of a three-day "dry" immersion without the use of prophylaxis

Abstract

Introduction. Currently, the participation of women in space flights is increasing. In this regard, questions about the influence of space factors on the state of the female body arise inevitably. Model experiments, in particular, "dry" immersion, are most convenient for studying the influence of individual factors of space flight on the organism. The aim of this work is a comparative assessment of the state of the vaginal microbiota of 6 female volunteers before and after three-day "dry" immersion.Materials and methods. Microbial samples of all volunteers were stained according to Gram with a sequential culture study in accordance with the medical technology. The species identification of microorganisms was performed by MALDI-TOF-MS analysis using an Autoflex III time-of-flight mass spectrometer with Maldi BioTyper software.To assess changes in the state of the vaginal microflora and microflora of the cervical canal, eubiotic index was used. It reflects the number of positive states of microbiota to the number of negative ones.Results. After 3 days of "dry" immersion volunteers, who had high titer of aerobic microorganisms before isolation, had significant increase of the amount of aerobic microorganisms, while the number of lactobacilli decreased. The other group of volunteers showed activation of colonization resistance of the vaginal microflora. Volunteers, who had a significant contamination with anaerobic opportunistic microflora before isolation, had reduction of the number of all anaerobes, including lactobacilli. The eubiotic index, calculated for the cervical canal, decreased after 3 days of immersion. The data obtained indicate that after 3 days of isolation, the state of the microflora has deteriorated.

Keywords

• vaginal microflora
• dry immersion
• space flight factors