The ecologically wrong vaginal lactobacilli.

Morphologically different Lactobacilli can be observed in wet smear preparations from the lower female genital tract; this morphological difference seems to correlate with the ability of the bacterium to produce hydrogen peroxide. This discussion will examine the role of the normal bacterial flora in protection of the host against recurrent infections. Further, we will propose a model as to how the potential role of immunological tolerance or 'immunological preference for' the maternal bacterial flora, can give individual differences in disposition for infections.