Trichomonas vaginalis and bacterial vaginosis. Coexistence in vaginal wet mount preparations from pregnant women.
OBJECTIVE
To identify how frequently trichomoniasis and characteristics of bacterial vaginosis (BV) occur concomitantly in wet mount preparations from pregnant women.


METHODS
Diagnosis of trichomoniasis was predicted on visualization of the organism. Diagnosis of BV required a positive volatile (whiff) test, presence of "clue cells" and one of two minor criteria: (1) absence of lactobacilli, or (2) a pH > 4.5. Pregnant women from January 1995 to July 1997 at our clinic had wet mount/KOH preparations performed as standard prenatal care. Corresponding medical charts were analyzed for symptoms, race, BV, sexually transmitted diseases, urinary tract infections and other infections.


RESULTS
Of 191 pregnant women identified, 69 had trichomoniasis. Seventy-nine percent of the 69 were African American. Fifteen percent of pregnant women (17) had concomitant trichomoniasis and BV. Irrespective of race, 35-38% of pregnant women with trichomoniasis had another sexually transmitted disease or a urinary tract infection diagnosed in that pregnancy.


CONCLUSIONS
BV, or bacteria excess syndrome, is a frequent coinfection in pregnant women harboring Trichomonas vaginalis.
Franklin
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TL
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska 68131, USA.
Monif
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GR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology; D014247:Trichomonas Vaginitis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014246:Trichomonas vaginalis / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology