title: [The value of vaginal swabs].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of culture of vaginal secretions by physicians and their use of microscopy of vaginal secretions were assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted partly as a registration of all microbiological requests and reports from the Department of Clinical Microbiology in a selected period, and partly as a questionnaire sent to all general practitioners (GPs) and specialists in obstetrics and gynaecology in the county of Arhus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In only 19% of 1,354 vaginal swabs received in a month could the findings lead to a specific antimicrobial treatment; 48% of these cases could be diagnosed by microscopy of vaginal secretions alone. Sixty-four per cent of the physicians returned the questionnaire. Half of the specialists and 60% of the GPs performed microscopy. Twenty-five per cent of the physicians treated patients solely on the basis of clinical symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  General culture of vaginal secretions has a limited clinical value. The diagnosis in patients complaining of vaginal discharge can often be made by microscopy. There is, however, a need for training GPs in microscopy, as well as specialists.
authors.affiliation: Arhus Universitetshospital, Arhus Kommunehospital, klinisk mikrobiologisk afdeling.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Helmig
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arpi
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Møller
mesh_terms: D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012042:Registries; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014626:Vaginal Smears