Abstract

Three hundred and sixty four (364) high vagina swabs (HVS) were gathered from a hospital in the Central Region of Saudi Arabia. The following samples were identified from the following genera: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella sp., Proteus sp., Lactobacillus sp., Micrococcus sp., Staphylococcus sp., Streptococcus sp. as normal vaginal flora, K. pneumoniae, Streptococcus Group B and S. aureus as the causal agent of bacterial vaginosis. In the different age categories of women, adults had the highest percentage of infection (29.78%). The response of the isolated bacteria to antibiotics such as Amoxicillin (AMX), Amoxicillin-Clavulanic acid (AML), Cefaclor (CEC), Cefotaxime (CTX), Ceftriaxone (CRO), Cefuroxime (CXM), Cephradine (CE), Clindamycin (DA) has revealed that they have more effect on Streptococcus Group B, S. aureus and K. pneumoniae. Results have shown that ozone (40 µg/L) can efficiently deactivate the growth of Streptococcus Group B more than Ampicillin (AMP), Cotrimoxazole (SXT), Erythromycin (E), Gentamycin (GN), Ofloxacin (OFX), Peflloxacine (PEF), Tetracycline (TE), Trimethoprim (W). Also, is case of S. aureus with Ciprofloxacin (CIP), OFX, TE, W and K. pneumoniae with SXT. The state of bacterial growth and cells form of Streptococcus group (B), E. coli and Lactobacillus sp. by exposure to different concentrations of ozone was checked by using Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). Bacterial cells had collapsed and shrunken patterns, were deformed, had severe rupture and destruction after being exposed to ozone; unlike in the control treatment. Results obtained through this research are considered to be the first addressing the efficiency of ozone in destroying the resistance of HVS isolated bacteria to some antibiotics, and subsequently restoring the capacity of these antibiotics in treatment again.

Key words: Bacterial vaginosis, antibacterial activity, ozone, antibiotics, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Escherichia coli, transmission electron microscope (TEM).