Diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis in a gynaecology clinic.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence of bacterial vaginosis in women referred to a gynaecology clinic, and to compare two methods of diagnosing bacterial vaginosis.


METHODS
Gynaecology Clinic at Northwick Park Hospital


METHODS
114 women aged 16 to 65 referred consecutively to the gynaecology clinic of one consultant.


METHODS
Detection of bacterial vaginosis by standard compound criteria and by examination of a Gram stained smear of fluid from the posterior vaginal fornix.


RESULTS
Bacterial vaginosis was detected by both the Gram stain and the compound criteria in 13 women. There was no correlation between the symptom of vaginal discharge and the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis in this population, but the presence of discharge noted by the clinician was associated with bacterial vaginosis.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of bacterial vaginosis was 11%. The Gram stain provides a simple and inexpensive method for laboratory confirmation of bacterial vaginosis where facilities for using the compound criteria are not available.
Hay
P E
PE
Division of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Clinical Research Centre, Harrow, Middlesex.
Taylor-Robinson
D
D
Lamont
R F
RF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D005260:Female; D006194:Gardnerella vaginalis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology