title: Frequency of infectious agents for vaginitis in patients with a cytological diagnosis of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the presence of infectious agents for vaginitis in patients with ASCUS.
  
  
  METHODS
  33,388 patients who underwent cervical-vaginal cytology from 08/1993 to 05/2002 were included in the study, and 1,104 (3.4%) presented positive ASCUS. The appraised infectious agents were Coccobacilli, Candida sp, Trichomonas vaginalis, and clue cells (Gardnerella vaginalis).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the group with ASCUS a larger frequency of Coccobacilli (22.37%) and Trichomonas vaginalis (5.25%) was found when compared with the group with negative ASCUS (17.79% and 3.98%, respectively; p < 0.05). Cytolysis occurred more frequently in patients with ASCUS (3.8 vs 6.3%, first phase and 4.5 vs 10%, second phase).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We believe that some diagnoses of ASCUS can be induced by the presence of infectious agents for vaginitis, mainly cocci and coccoides. ASCUS occurs more frequently in the first phase of the menstrual cycle, therefore in less acid vaginal pH.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Oncology (IPON)/Discipline of Gynecology and Obstetrics , Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Tirone
authors.forename: C E V
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Michelin
authors.forename: E F C
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Murta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000166:cytology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D014627:Vaginitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology