Preoperative Vaginal Microbiome as a Predictor of Postoperative Urinary Tract Infection Following Pelvic Organ Prolapse Surgery

The goal of this pilot study is to elucidate the direct presence and stability of the microbial community in the vagina and lower urinary tract in a cohort of 20 postmenopausal women undergoing transvaginal hysterectomy with pelvic reconstruction for pelvic organ prolapse. We intend to collect longitudinal samples in the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative time period in order to understand the pervasiveness of the microbes in the vagina and lower urinary tract, and to identify, in a very preliminary way, particular microbes that may be associated with postoperative urinary tract infection.Our aim is the characterization of the vaginal and lower urinary tract microbiome in postmenopausal women undergoing pelvic reconstructive surgery for pelvic organ prolapse. The goal ultimate goal is to longitudinally compare the microbiome present in patients at specific time periods:Once weekly for four weeks prior to scheduled surgery dateDay of surgery, preoperatively prior to transport to the operating suite, followed by intraoperatively by provider, prior to preoperative antibiotic administrationPostoperatively once weekly for six weeks