title: Accuracy of the cytopathology, bacterioscopy, and vaginal flora culture.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An over-population of vaginal microorganisms causing inflammatory processes renders it difficult to properly assess the cytopathological exam that aims to screen precedent cervical lesions. On the contrary, the occurrence of the microbial flora saprophyte does not influence correct cythodiagnosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the composition of vaginal tract aerobic microorganisms of asymptomatic women in menacme and post-menopause, and to analyze the accuracy of cytopathologic, bacterioscopic exams, and culturing of the flora.
  
  
  METHODS
  The women were first submitted to a focused anamnestic interrogatory and then submitted to gynecological exam. A sample of the vaginal fluid was collected with a culture swab and a smear was made on two glass slides for stained bacterioscopic exam (GRAM). The collection of material was then compiled in a cytopathologic smear analysis. All women signed the free and informed consent letter and the project was approved by the Ethics Research Board of Hospital São Paulo - UNIFESP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bacterioscopy and culture proved to be better than the cytopathologic exam in featuring the bacilli and cocci. The bacterioscopy provided a better detection of the presence of bacilli (p < 0.001); no statistical difference was seen between both exams with respect to the detected cocci. The beta-hemolytic Streptococcus group was of significance in post-menopausal women (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, the bacterioscopic and culture exams of the vaginal fluid were more effective in assessing the vaginal flora and in the detection of bacilli, compared to the cytopathological exam.
authors: Institution, Gynegologic Diseases Prevention Center (NUPREV), General Gynecology, Gynecology Department, Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM), Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Brazil.
authors: P Q
authors: PQ
authors: Almeida
authors: M A P
authors: MA
authors: Pereira
authors: F S
authors: FS
authors: Palomo
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Okazaki
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Schimidt
authors: N M G
authors: NM
authors: Speck
authors: J C L
authors: JC
authors: Ribalta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D046508:Culture Techniques; D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008828:Microbiological Techniques; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology