title: Microbiological Infections in Women With Cervical Cytological Reports of Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the role of cervicovaginal infections in women with cytological reports of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 220 women admitted to the Clinic of Microscopy, Cervicovaginal and Vulvar Pathology of the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of the Tor Vergata University Hospital, Rome, Italy, enrolled between October 2012 and July 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the enrolled women, 105 women (47.7%) had ASC-US cytology, whereas 115 women (52.3%) had negative cytology. Microscopy showed infections more frequently in women with ASC-US than in those with negative cytology: 70.5% (74/105) vs 36% (41/115); p < .001. Cocci were present in 73.3% (77/105) of the women with ASC-US and in 43.5% (50/115) of those with negative cytology; p < .001. According to Ison score, 84% (88/105) of ASC-US was grade 0 vs 22% (25/115) of negative cytology, p < .001. Human papillomavirus was detected in 35% of the women with ASC-US. A statistically significant correlation between high pH and vaginal infections was found in women aged 20 to 29 (p = .003) and those 50 years or older in both cytological report groups; p < .001.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cervicovaginal infections are associated with a cytological report of ASC-US. Direct microscopy of vaginal specimens allowing immediate evaluation of the vaginal microflora and infectious agents may be a useful tool in managing women with cytological reports of ASC-US.
authors.affiliation: 1Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Polyclinic Tor Vergata Foundation, Rome, Italy; 2Section of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Department of Surgical Sciences, Polyclinic Tor Vergata Foundation, Rome, Italy; 3Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immunomediated Diseases, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy; 4Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; and 5Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology and Virology, Polyclinic Tor Vergata Foundation, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Pierpaolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paba
authors.forename: Anna Angela
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Criscuolo
authors.forename: Romina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grazia Giancipoli
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Santi
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ascone
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sesti
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Piccione
authors.forename: Carlo Federico
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Perno
authors.forename: Cartesio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Favalli
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciotti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D065309:Atypical Squamous Cells of the Cervix / Q000382:microbiology*; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D002577:Uterine Cervical Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology; D014623:Vaginal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult