Prevalence of nonspecific vaginitis and other cervicovaginal infections during the third trimester of pregnancy.
Nonspecific vaginitis (NSV) is a clinical syndrome characterized by a decreased concentration of normal acidophilic Döderlein flora in the vagina and increased concentration of nonacidophilic microorganisms, such as Gardnerella vaginalis, anaerobic bacteria, and mycoplasmas. Since several NSV-associated organisms are associated with complications of pregnancy, we studied the prevalence of NSV among 104 consecutive women during the third trimester of pregnancy. Overall, 14 women (14%) had NSV by clinical and/or biochemical criteria, two women had Chlamydia trachomatis isolated from the cervix, and 24 women (23%) had yeast isolated from the vagina. None had Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Trichomonas vaginalis isolated. There was a correlation between an abnormal succinate to lactate ratio (on gas-liquid chromatography) and cytologic atypia detected by cervicovaginal Papanicolaou smears. More extensive studies are needed to correlate NSV with prematurity.
Paavonen
J
J
Heinonen
P K
PK
Aine
R
R
Laine
S
S
Grönroos
P
P
D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000382:microbiology; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000382:microbiology*; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D014246:Trichomonas vaginalis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002577:Uterine Cervical Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000382:microbiology; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology; D014627:Vaginitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D015003:Yeasts / Q000302:isolation & purification