title: Combination of microbiological culture and multiplex PCR increases the range of vaginal microorganisms identified in cervical cancer patients at high risk for bacterial vaginosis and vaginitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bacterial vaginosis (BV) and vaginitis in cervical cancer patients might becaused by mixed aerobic, anaerobic, and atypical bacteria. Since genital tract infections can be complicated, early and accurate identification of causal pathogens is vital.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was i) to determinate if currently used aerobic culture methods are sufficiently sensitive to identify pathogens that can appear in the cervix of women after cancer treatment; ii) to investigate if molecular methods can improve the diagnostic process of BV and vaginitis, as well as broaden the range of detectable pathogens that would otherwise be difficult to cultivate.
  
  
  METHODS
  A one-year hospital-based study was conducted in 2011/2012. Cervical swabs from 130 patients were examined by microbiological culture and multiplex PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Swab samples were positive for 107 and 93 women by microbiological culture and multiplex PCR, respectively The most common bacteria isolated from culture were: Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Staphylococcus aureus, and using the molecular technique were: Gardnerella vaginalis, Bacteroides fragilis, Ureoplasma ureoliticum/parvum, Mobiluncus curtisii and Atopobium vaginae.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multiplex PCR might contribute to the diagnosis of genital tract infections and it broadens the number of detectable microorganisms responsible for BV. Combination of these two methods may become the basis for standardized diagnosis of BV and vaginitis.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Zefiryn
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cybulski
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roszak
authors.forename: Alicja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grabiec
authors.forename: Zofia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Talaga
authors.forename: Bartosz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Urbański
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Odważna
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wojciechowicz
mesh_terms: D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000382:microbiology*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D005260:Female; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D060885:Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D013045:Species Specificity; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000379:methods; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*