NCT04301401

Assessment of Changes in Vaginal Microbiota Profiles Before and After Vaginal Urogynecologic Surgery

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (actual)
• Sponsor: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nīmes · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Several studies have shown interactions between vaginal microbiota and post-surgical evolution. A study conducted by our team showed a tendency for patients with complications to have a greater diversity of vaginal microbiota. The main objective of the proposed study will therefore be to evaluate the vaginal, urinary and digestive microbiota modifications during and after vaginal surgery and to correlate them with the symptoms of the urogynecological sphere.

Detailed description

In gynecological surgery, surgical site infections are a common complication. Gynecological surgery and, more specifically, vaginal surgery leads to a high risk of infection not only due to its " clean-contaminated " nature related to the proximity of the vagina but also due to the use of a transvaginal mesh or suburetal sling. The germs most commonly found at the origin of a surgical site infection are germs forming part of the vaginal flora. Furthermore, in the field of pelvic organ prolapse surgery, certain specific complications such as mesh retraction and mesh exposure may be related to infection due to bacterial colonisation. The vaginal ecosystem contains a large quantity of bacteria, the commonest of which are lactobacilli. This ecosystem varies in women depending on their sexuality, hormonal impregnation, tobacco consumption or hygiene.It has been demonstrated that the microbiota can be divided into 7 classes depending on the predominant types of germ. It has also been shown that an imbalance in vaginal flora could be responsible for infections of the upper genital tract, obstetric complications or even the transmission of sexually transmissible diseases. Several studies have shown interactions between the microbiota and post surgical evolution. A recent study carried out at the Gynecology and Obstetrics department of Nîmes University Hospital (Veit Rubin et al, NAU 2019) also investigated the relationship between vaginal microbiota and the onset of postoperative complications in transvaginal mesh surgery. This retrospective study also found that patients with complications tended to have a greater diversity of microbiota. Furthermore, certain species of bacteria (Veillonella spp) seemed to be commoner in patients with complications. However, this was a low-powered retrospective study with few participants and the results therefore need to be confirmed. Our hypothesis is that the vaginal microbiota may be modified by a surgical act with a vaginal approach. There are very few studies on vaginal microbiota and so far no studies have evaluated the potential impact of a transvaginal surgery on vaginal microbiota. Our study may help to better understand the relationship between the vaginal microbiota and the postoperative evolution of patients.These possible modifications in vaginal microbiota might be predictive of the symptomatology of patients benefitting from transvaginal surgery and play a role in the the post-operative evolution of these patients.

Conditions

• Gynecological Surgery

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Vaginal swabs	On the day of the surgical intervention, vaginal swabs will be taken at various stages of surgery: before vaginal disinfection/draping, directly after disinfection/draping, 1 hour after disinfection, 6 weeks after surgery and 12 months after surgery.
OTHER	Stool samples	Stool samples will also be taken (and collected in a pot devoted to coproculture with an airtight opaque bag given to the patient) at the inclusion visit on the day before surgery and also 6 weeks after surgery (in a second pot with an airtight opaque bag given to the patient at the time of being discharged).
OTHER	Urine samples	Urine samples will also be taken before surgery and 6 weeks after surgery.

Timeline

• Start date: 2020-03-01
• Primary completion: 2023-01-18
• Completion: 2023-10-10
• First posted: 2020-03-10
• Last updated: 2026-01-13

Locations

1 site across 1 country: France