I AM A HEALTHY 43 YEAR OLD FEMALE. I HAD BURNING SENSATION ...

Thank you for sumitting your question.

Basically what you have is an infection of the vaginal or lower gastrointestinal area. The symptoms are typically similar to that of a bladder infection.

This particular bacteria is most commonly associated with women who have just given birth. The bacteria lies dormant in 10-40% of women and enters the infection stage during delivery complications. Though this is the usual method of contracting it the bacterial infection is also seen in non-pregnant women. While it is not completely certain how a woman contracts this bacteria there are several conditions that are often related. Often women have had other infections of the region previously, currently have diabetes or a comprimised immune system.
At this stage the infection should not be serious, it needs to be treated with the prescribed antibiotics (amoxicillan) or if you don't improve they may try something stronger such as Sulfa or Cipro (make sure you do not have an allergy as it is common). It is important to treat it now because if left alone the worst case scenario could mean contracting Meningitis which is a much more serious infection effecting your brain.

If you continue your course of antibiotics as directed that should kill the bacteria. In some cases the infection can reoccur but living a healthy lifestyle and keeping excellent hygene can help prevent that. It is possible to pass a bacterial infection on to your partner if you have unprotected sex during the course of your infection. To ensure the health of your partner it is best to refrain from unprotected sex until you have finished your course of antibiotics as directed.

If your symptoms worsen or you develop a high fever (over 101) see your primary care physician as soon as possible.

I hope this has answered your questions. If this is what you were looking for please accept this answer. If you have further information that would help me to better answer this question please let me know. Thank you and good luck!

Edited by Darian Nox on July 28 2006 at 3:30pm

I AM A NON-PREGNANT WOMAN AND HAVE NEVER BEEN PREGNANT.

I HAD THIS SAME SYMPTOM SEVERAL MONTHS AGO WITHOUT THE CULTURE SAMPLE AND WAS GIVEN MACROBID FOR IT. NOW THAT IT HAS RETURNED ONCE AGAIN I HAD THE CULTURE DONE WHICH SHOWED UP THAT I HAVE THE STREP. (I UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE DIFFERENT MEDICATIONS PRESCRIBED) MY POINT INTENDED IS THAT I HAVE HAD IT BEFORE THEREFORE IS A REOCCURRING CONDITION.

I AM STILL NOT CLEAR ON HOW I GOT THIS BECAUSE I AM A PERSON THAT RARELY, EVER GETS SICK, WITH A GOOD IMMUNE SYSTEM. I HAVE EXCELLENT HYGEINE. I AM NOT OVERWEIGHT, NOT DIABETIC AND LIVE A RELATIVELY HEALTHLY LIFESTYLE. SO HOW ELSE COULD I HAVE GOTTEN THIS TO BEGIN WITH? CAN YOU GET THIS THROUGH MULTIPLE SEXUAL PARTNERS IN UNPROTECTED (NO CONDOM) INTERCOURSE?


OR DOES THIS ALL DEPEND ON IF IT IS VAGINAL OR LOWER G.I. PROBLEMS? HOW CAN I FIND OUT WHICH ONE IT IS?

ALSO CAN IT BE PASSED BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN A MONOGOMIS COUPLE? DOES THE OTHER PARTNER NEED TO BE TESTED OR TREATED?

I hope this answers your question more fully.

Firstly, as I said currently experts have differing opinions on how exactly this is contracted. They cannot give an exact answer but they do know that it is related to immuno deficientcies. Some people just have a history of unrinary tract type infections in their family and seem more prone to them than others. This leads some doctors to the opinion that it might be hereditary in part. Good hygene, good sleep, and healthy diet can help but it is hard to say exactly how to prevent them. An RN I've consulted on this matter also suggests bathroom habits that never allow bacteria from your rectum to come in contact with your vaginal bacteria. This is achieved by wiping front to back.

Occasionally this type of bacteria can be transmitted through sexual contact. Mainly that would depend on the hygene of your sexual partner. Essentially it begins wherever bacteria in the genital region is allowed to grow unchecked and can be transmitted if you come in contact with it. If you have a low immune system it just makes it more likely.

As far as it being reoccurring it is only reoccurring if they didn't eliminate it the first time. The antimicrobial might not have been strong enough and left remnants of the old infection that flared up again later. Some infections are just stubborn but it can be cured with the course of treatment you're on currently.

As I said before about transfer to your partner you only have to have them tested if they show symptoms of the infection. It is possible that while you are still carrying it (ie before the medication eliminates it from your system) that your partner can get the infection from contact. They would begin to show the same symptoms you are now and would have to go on the same course of antibiotics.

I hope this has answered your question more completely. Please let me know if I can further assist you on this issue.