title: The high vaginal swab in general practice: clinical correlates of possible pathogens.
abstract: Clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of 286 women whose high vaginal swabs (HVS) submitted by their general practitioners showed pure, heavy growth of Staphylococcus aureus, beta haemolytic streptococci groups A, C or G, Streptococcus milleri, Streptococcus pneumoniae or Haemophilus influenzae were analysed. Women with group A, C and G streptococci frequently had clinical vulvovaginitis and although the numbers were too small for statistical confirmation, S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae appeared to cause clinical disease as well. The association of S. aureus or S. milleri with clinical vulvovaginitis was much less convincing. It seems relevant for laboratories to report sensitivities for group A, C and G streptococci. Further research is needed to determine the pathogenicity of S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae.
authors.affiliation: Infection Unit, City Hospital, Aberdeen, UK.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Dykhuizen
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Gould
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D015995:Prevalence; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D014848:Vulvovaginitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*