Coccobacillary flora in a smear in women - what is it and does it need to be treated?

Coccobacillary flora in a smear in men: what is it?

Thanks to the achievements of modern medicine, it is now much easier to determine the cause of poor health and alarming symptoms indicating the presence of serious diseases.
A special laboratory analysis (flora smear) is designed to identify microbes that provoke inflammatory processes and their quantity in the urethra. Using a smear in men, the following diseases can be detected:

urethritis;
prostatitis;
chlamydia;
gonorrhea;
trichomoniasis;
ureaplasmosis;
mycoplasmosis.

If a traditional examination of a urethral smear turns out to be insufficient, it is usually supplemented by determining the amount of pathogenic bacteria contained in the genital tract, that is, a cultural examination. The PCR method is also used. This is a special type of laboratory diagnostics that allows you to effectively identify pathogens transmitted through unprotected sexual contact.

If tests show the presence of coccal flora, this indicates the presence of sexually transmitted diseases in the body, for example, trichomoniasis. Non-sexually transmitted diseases may also be the cause. Perhaps the body has a malfunction of the endocrine system, a weakened immune system due to allergies or due to the use of strong antibiotics. All these factors contribute to the development of coccal flora.

As you know, cocci will always be present in a smear in men, but in a minimal amount that does not threaten health. But neglect of hygiene rules or weakening of the body’s defense mechanisms will lead to an intensive increase in the number of microorganisms, which will subsequently manifest itself through inflammatory processes and deterioration of well-being. After such symptoms, a man must undergo examination by a urologist.

The danger of coccobacillary flora is that with this condition no symptoms appear for a long time. A man often does not even know that he is a carrier of pathogenic bacteria and with a high degree of probability can transmit them to his partners.

Normal number of cocci in a smear

Women's vaginal microflora contains many bacteria, and each of them does its own job and supports women's health. Such microorganisms include: acidophilus bacteria, bifidumbacteria and cocci. If their ratio is within normal limits, they maintain an alkaline balance, help metabolism proceed properly and destroy foreign microorganisms.

To determine the number of bacteria contained in the microflora, you need to do a smear on the alkaline balance. If the number of microorganisms is greater than normal, this indicates that the microflora has a high alkaline environment, that is, a pH greater than 7.5.

The pH norm is no more than 7 and no less than 5.5. An imbalance of cocci in women leads to cervical erosion, endometritis, and even infertility.

What microbes can be detected during examination?

Cocci are a genus of various microbes. It includes the following microorganisms:

Staphylococcus aureus;
Gonococcus;
Streptococci.

The male urinary system is constantly populated by these microorganisms. Streptococcus and staphylococcus are necessary for microflora to eliminate decay products from the canal and eat dead tissue cells. Under the influence of various reasons, a massive death of beneficial flora occurs in the human body. Streptococcus and staphylococcus colonize the vacated area.

Gonococcus appears in the body through unprotected sexual contact or through wounds in public baths. The bacterium attacks beneficial flora and causes massive death of organisms. The microbe has inflammatory properties. It is especially dangerous for the gonads. The inflammatory process caused by gonococcus is accompanied by the formation of fluid. It consists of dead epidermal cells, white blood cells and pus.

Features of treatment

Before you begin drug therapy against cocci in a smear in women, it is necessary to check their sensitivity to the effects of antibiotics.

To do this, it is necessary to carry out bacteriological culture. Such a study allows you to select the most correct, safe and effective treatment that will quickly relieve you of the pathology.

Keep in mind that medications are not prescribed if a woman has no signs of illness due to elevated cocci.

The treatment regimen for bacterial infection is as follows:

Antibiotics are medications that will quickly get rid of pathogenic microorganisms. They can be used for both local and system use. For this purpose, tablets, injection solutions, and rectal suppositories are prescribed. On average, the duration of such treatment is a week. In most cases, Metronidazole, Tinidazole, and Clindamycin are chosen for such therapy.
Antihistamines help quickly get rid of the symptoms of the disease.
Immunomodulatory drugs - help increase the body's protective abilities.
Probiotics – restore the microflora of the whole body after antibiotics.

It must be taken into account that if cocci are detected in a smear of one partner, both should undergo treatment. In addition, during therapy it is necessary to completely abstain from sexual activity. This is the only way the treatment will make any sense.

How does a smear test take place and how to prepare for the procedure?

During the analysis, some men experience discomfort, since in order to take material with a probe and a tampon, it must be inserted 3 cm into the urethra. After all manipulations are completed, residual pain and burning sensations in the area of the head of the penis are possible.

Sometimes, before taking a smear, it is practiced to massage the prostate gland or urethra with a special probe. The procedure must be performed exclusively by a qualified physician.

To obtain accurate analysis data, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

Abstinence from sexual contact 48 hours (or at least one day) before the examination.
In the evening before the examination, thoroughly wash the external genitalia. In the morning immediately before the tests, you should avoid swimming.
The last time to visit the restroom before being examined by a doctor is allowed 3 hours before the appointment.
A week in advance, stop taking any medications that have not been agreed upon with your doctor and may affect test results.
Stop topical application of antiseptics, antibacterial and antifungal drugs three days before.

Causes and symptoms

Due to cocci, the vaginal mucosa becomes alkaline. All beneficial bacteria die in it: Dederlein bacilli, bifidumbacterin and peptostreptococci.

This leads to the emergence of serious pathologies against the background of weakening protective abilities. Also, in an alkaline environment, harmful microorganisms begin to multiply rapidly, which cause dangerous complications.

The following reasons can provoke the development of this phenomenon:

Long-term use of antibiotics.
Wearing tight underwear made of synthetic fabrics.
Insufficient genital hygiene.
Constant use of panty liners.
Frequent douching.
Promiscuous sexual intercourse.
Consequences of infectious diseases that are sexually transmitted.
Beginning of sexual life at an early age.
Not using condoms.
Changing sanitary pads too infrequently during menstruation.

An increase in the number of cocci in a smear in women can be recognized by an increase in mucous secretions, an unpleasant odor from the genital organ, burning and itching in the vagina. If these symptoms appear, be sure to consult your doctor for a detailed diagnosis. In men, this phenomenon is diagnosed extremely rarely. It can be recognized in them by problems with urination and discharge from the penis. Most often, trichomonas and gonococci are diagnosed in men.

Reasons for the development of infection

There are a huge number of factors influencing the pathogenic reproduction of pathogens. Cocci appear in a smear in men due to the following reasons:

Immunity impairment;
Additional diseases;
Treatment with antibiotics;
Unprotected sexual contact;
Injuries to the genital organs;
Surgical intervention.

A dysfunction of the immune system affects the condition of the entire body. Decreased immunity leads to the development of various diseases in the male genitourinary system. The inflammatory process leads to a decrease in the number of beneficial organisms. Their place is taken by cocci. Bacteria affect the urinary tract and reproductive glands.

Additional or concomitant diseases reduce the activity of normal cells and activate the work of pathogenic bacteria. The presence of diseases such as diabetes, pneumonia, ulcers or gastritis in the patient leads to the appearance of cocci. Diabetes mellitus has a necrotic effect on the peripheral veins of men.

With this disease, thinning of the vascular walls occurs. There is a decrease in oxygen supply to tissues. Many bacteria from the genus Coccus are anaerobic organisms. This feature helps them settle on organs that do not receive oxygen. Cocci settle in the damaged area, and an infection develops.

The patient's use of antibiotics leads to the active proliferation of cocci. Antibiotic drugs have a detrimental effect on all types of bacteria. Long-term use of antibiotics leads to a decrease in the level of beneficial microflora. Cocci begin to actively multiply and colonize the vacated areas of tissue.

Injuries to the genital organs and surgery can cause changes in the level of flora and activate the process of development of cocci. When using non-sterile or poorly disinfected instruments, pathogenic organisms enter the body, which lead to the development of diseases of the genitourinary system.

Smears during pregnancy

Recently, the number of inflammatory diseases and dysbiosis of the genital organs in pregnant women has been increasing.

This may be due to uncontrolled use of certain antibiotics, hormones (contraception before planning or for the treatment of infertility), poor diet, lifestyle, and decreased immunity. The appearance of coccal flora in smears of pregnant women sharply increases the likelihood of the addition of pathogenic flora, which is facilitated by:

Changes in hormonal levels.
Weakening of local immunity during pregnancy.

In addition, many drugs are not recommended for the treatment of pregnant women, therefore, when excess coccobacillary microflora appears, the possibilities of therapy are significantly reduced.

Active reproduction of opportunistic bacteria entails the development of inflammation of the mucous membrane of the vagina, cervix, and bladder. Their danger lies in the increased risk of intrauterine infection with delayed fetal development, miscarriage and other complications.

Symptoms of diseases

If a large number of cocci are found in a smear in men, the following symptoms may appear:

burning during urination;
soreness in the lower abdomen;
mucus or mucopurulent discharge from the urethra.

But these signs are not characteristic of isolated diseases. The listed symptoms may occur with urethritis (inflammation of the urethra). Therefore, without testing, it is impossible to determine the cause of inflammation. It is also worth considering that with complications of urethritis, the coccus bacillus can be found in the prostate gland, seminal vesicles, testicles, and not just in the urethra.

Factors that accompany the cocobacillus flora:

poor hygiene;
intestinal dysbiosis;
regular change of sexual partners;
deterioration of immunity;
poor nutrition.

Gram-positive cocci in a smear in men are detected after sexual transmission of the infection.

Cocci are sown in a smear in men for a variety of genitourinary diseases. The man experiences various symptoms. Cocci are accompanied by the appearance of the following symptoms:

Itching and discomfort in the urethra;
Pain when emptying the bladder;
The appearance of purulent fluid;
Redness and swelling of the groin area.

Itching and discomfort appear when the tissue of the urinary canal is damaged by cocci. Dead epidermis is excreted in the urine. A focus of inflammation occurs in the affected area of the urethra. As fluid passes through the urethra, inflammation intensifies. The man experiences pain and discomfort.

Gonococci and enterococci are accompanied by the discharge of gray-green fluid from the urethra. The substance has an unpleasant odor. If the infection lasts for a long time, then blood may be mixed with the pus. The presence of discharge in a man that is unusual for the body is a reason for an immediate visit to the doctor.

Enterococci and staphylococci cause swelling of the tissues of the urethra and scrotum. When palpated, the swelling has hard and tense walls; the urethra cannot be felt. Severe swelling makes it difficult to empty the bladder. The patient often visits the toilet, emptying the bladder completely becomes impossible. The problem must be eliminated through treatment.

Symptoms and diagnosis

The appearance of pathogenic microorganisms in the body rarely remains asymptomatic.

The spread of gram-variable coccobacilli leads to some changes in the functioning of the reproductive system:

Abundant coccobacillary flora can be identified by a white coating in and near the vagina. There is a significant increase in leukocytes. In order to diagnose the presence of pathogenic microorganisms in the vagina, it is mandatory to undergo a smear with proper preparation for the procedure.

A large number of coccobacilli in a smear requires additional diagnostics including urine and blood tests.

In addition, colcoscopy is mandatory, which helps to identify colpitis, vaginosis and other inflammatory and infectious pathologies. The doctor takes material for bacteriological culture from the cervix and cervical canal.

If the patient complains of pain in the pelvic area, an ultrasound examination should be performed.

Symptoms

Moderate levels of bacteria in a man’s body may not cause any alarming symptoms for a long time. However, if there were any stressful situations for the body that led to its weakening, this could become an impetus for the active reproduction of the infection. Then the main symptoms of the disease are:

itching and burning in the groin;
dry mucous membrane;
discharge mixed with pus and an unpleasant odor;
pain and difficulty urinating;
weakness;
temperature increase.

The key to a speedy recovery is timely diagnosis of the disease and prescription of treatment. If the infection was identified in the early stages, then treatment will not take much time, but it is mandatory. Neglecting to take medications can lead to the development of complications in nearby organs.

Correct microflora

Normally, the vaginal microflora should contain acidophilus bacteria. In addition to them, the presence of no more than 10% bifidumbacterin, as well as 5% peptostreptococci, is acceptable.

Only in this case is the microflora able to function normally and maintain an acidic environment, which protects the vagina from the occurrence of pathogenic bacteria.

If any disturbances occur, the microflora becomes pathogenic and ceases to perform its main tasks:

Destroys harmful germs and bacteria.
Maintaining the necessary acid balance.
Maintaining metabolic processes.

Cocci in a smear in women cause changes in the acidity of the vagina. If there are a lot of them, then the environment becomes alkaline. The analysis may show the following results:

pH does not exceed 5 – slightly acidic environment.
pH from 5.1 to 7.0 is a neutral environment.
pH exceeds 7.5 – alkaline environment.

An alkaline environment indicates that gram-positive diplococci are present on the vaginal mucosa, which leads to the death of beneficial lactic bacteria.

This leads to disruption of the natural microflora, which negatively affects the health of the reproductive system. In addition, in this case, the smear is dominated by cocci, which cause dysbacteriosis.

This leads to the development of a powerful inflammatory process. Long-term lack of treatment for such a deviation is the cause of cervical erosion, endometritis and infertility.

Cocci in a smear in women

Diagnosis of the disease

Cocci in a smear in men can be detected during laboratory testing. The patient must prepare in advance for the examination. A smear from the urethra is taken subject to the following rules:

Lack of sex life;
Refusal of concomitant therapy;
Specific conditions for body washing.

The patient must abstain from sexual activity for 5 days. During this period, the required amount of pathogenic bacilli will accumulate in the urethra. If this condition is not met, the analysis will be unreliable.

Many men take medications for concomitant diseases. To ensure the reliability of the analysis, you need to check with your doctor whether you can take medications before taking a smear. If treatment includes taking antibiotics, the man needs to stop therapy, as the level of microbes may decrease.

A correctly taken smear is sent to the laboratory. Specialists populate microbes into a bowl and grow a colony. This is necessary to identify the sensitivity of cocci to drugs.

After detecting cocci in a smear in men, it is necessary to undergo a more thorough examination and treatment. If the inflammation is pronounced, in addition to the cocobacillary flora, more than 20 leukocytes, as well as more than 10 epithelial cells, are found in the field of view.

A smear taken from the urethra is examined using the following methods:

PCR allows you to detect STDs. This analysis is important because sexually transmitted diseases are quite common, and many of them cause dangerous complications;
Bacteriological culture on nutrient media allows one to determine sensitivity to antibiotics. This analysis provides insight into the bacterial load, in other words, the number of cocci.

What does the presence of coccobacilli in a smear indicate?

The detected cocobacilli in the analyzes have two explanations:

These two phenomena can cause a malfunction in the body, followed by an imbalance of microorganisms in it and, accordingly, an increase in the number of coccobacilli.

Sexually transmitted diseases fully explain such disorders. As for bacterial vaginosis, establishing the exact causes of its origin is more difficult. The first sign of dysbiosis is the key cells in the smear. The appearance of such microflora is facilitated by a decrease in the number of lactobacilli. They are replaced by other flora. Mostly Gardnerella. These bacteria have only recently been recognized as pathogens.

Often dysbiosis and venereal disease accompany each other and require complex treatment.

How to treat cocci in men

An examination by a doctor and following his recommendations to treat the infection are the first steps towards recovery. The most effective in fighting infection are the following antibiotics and drugs:

metronidazole;
tinidazole;
clindamycin;
drugs to strengthen the immune system;
antihistamines.

To avoid side effects from the use of these medications, it is recommended to refrain from drinking alcohol, even in small quantities, during the entire course of treatment.

Known for their anti-inflammatory properties, these herbs help relieve unpleasant symptoms such as itching and burning. At the end of the course of treatment, it is recommended to continue the prophylactic use of these decoctions. They will help maintain a man's hygiene and health.

It is important to completely complete the course of treatment and re-take tests to make sure that the flora of the smear has returned to normal. If the focus of coccal infections has not been completely defeated, there remains a high probability of re-development of inflammatory processes, the appearance of complications of the disease and its transition to a chronic nature.

After completing therapy, a man should not neglect preventive measures. To maintain the consistency of the microflora, it is recommended to always use condoms during sexual intercourse, exclude casual sex, and observe personal hygiene rules. To maintain high immunity and resistance to diseases, it is necessary to include fresh vegetables and fruits in your daily diet, give up harmful habits that weaken the body, and also regularly be examined by a urologist.

Treatment of pathology

It is necessary to treat coccobacillary flora , otherwise adverse health consequences may develop, the most dangerous of which is infertility.

Therapy is prescribed after the examination results and includes:

suppression and destruction of pathogenic microorganisms with antibiotics and antiseptics;
colonization with the “correct” microflora;
restoration of local and general immunity.

At the first stage, the following is prescribed:

Metronidazole (if Gardnerella is present) - 500 mg twice a day, course of administration is 7 days;
Ceftriaxone intramuscularly (for chlamydia, gonococci) - 0.5 g twice a day for a course of 7-10 days;
Terzhinan (for vaginal dysbiosis) in the form of vaginal tablets - one piece at a dosage of 500 mg at night for a course of 10 days;
Amoxiclav orally 0.5 g 2 times a day for a course of 7 days.

The next stage is no less important; its goal is to create an optimal biocenosis in the vagina.

Gynecologists prefer to prescribe drugs in the form of suppositories containing lactobacilli. Their advantage is their rapid effect, the delivery of active substances directly to the problem area.

The most effective drugs are Acylact, Vaginorm-S, Vagilak.

Tampons soaked in a solution of Lactobacterin and Bifidumbacterin are no less effective. The course to restore the flora lasts at least 14 days.

The third stage is aimed at increasing local and general immunity. The use of immunomodulators (topically and orally, in the form of injections) for 10-14 days will correct the immune capabilities towards strengthening.

The following medications are used:

Genferon or Viferon (suppositories);
Interferon (intramuscular);
Wobenzym (oral).

Prevention

To prevent an increase in the number of cocci in a smear in women, you need to follow simple rules. The main preventive measures include:

Careful and regular hygiene procedures.
Avoiding constant use of panty liners.
Avoiding frequent douching - this procedure negatively affects the microflora.
Daily change of underwear.
Wearing underwear made from natural fabrics. It should also be the right size.
It is permissible to begin sexual activity only after final maturation.
Taking vitamin complexes to boost the body's immune abilities.

If you follow these simple rules, the risk of cocci in your smear will be extremely low. This will help you prevent the development of pain and serious complications.

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