title: Prevalence of Gardnerella vaginalis and Atopobium vaginae in virginal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of this study was to determine the prevalence of Gardnerella vaginalis and Atopobium vaginae in virginal women and to establish if nonpenetrative sexual activity is associated with these organisms.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this study was to assess prevalence of G. vaginalis and A. vaginae in virginal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-four virginal female patients self-collected tampon specimens, which were tested for G. vaginalis and A. vaginae by polymerase chain reaction, and provided either brief or detailed information regarding sexual practices by self-administered questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty women (45%) had G. vaginalis and 3 (7%) A. vaginae detected. Among the 27 who provided detailed information, 12 (46%) had G. vaginalis and none had A. vaginae detected. G. vaginalis was significantly more likely to be detected in those who had participated in oral sex (odds ratio = 22; 95% confidence interval = 2.2-222) and hand-genital contact without penetration (P = 0.02), but not genital-genital contact.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that nonpenetrative intimate sexual contact is associated with carriage of G. vaginalis in virginal women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, The Royal Women's Hospital, 132 Grattan Street, Victoria 3053, Australia. Sepehr.Tabrizi@rch.org.au
authors.forename: Sepehr N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Tabrizi
authors.forename: Christopher K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Fairley
authors.forename: Catriona S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Bradshaw
authors.forename: Suzanne M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Garland
mesh_terms: D039903:Actinobacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006194:Gardnerella vaginalis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012646:Self Administration; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial