Detection of bacterial vaginosis in wet mount, Papanicolaou stained vaginal smears and in Gram stained smears

Abstract

In a prospective study of 107 women, bacterial vaginosis was clinically diagnosed in 34 women. Compared with clinical diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis, detection of clue cells in Papanicolaou stained vaginal smears showed a sensitivity of 88.2%, a specificity of 98.6%, a positive predictive value of 96.8% and a negative predictive value of 94.7%. The corresponding values for detection of bacterial vaginosis in Gram stained smears compared with the clinical diagnosis were 100%, 97.3%, 94.4% and 100%, respectively. Compared with clue cells in wet smears, identification of clue cells in Papanicolaou stained vaginal smears showed a Kappa index of 0.87 and compared with Gram stain criteria a Kappa index of 0.94. The correlation between Gram stain and Papanicolaou stained vaginal smears showed a Kappa index of 0.89. In contrast to the results of earlier investigators our studies indicate that the demonstration of clue cells in Papanicolaou stained vaginal smears correlate reasonably well with the conventional clinical criteria. However, the Gram stain method may be more reliable than the Papanicolaou method.

Comparison of Gram Stain and Pap Smear Procedures in theDiagnosis of Bacterial Vaginosis

“…The positive predictive values were determined as 86% for Pap smear and 88% for Gram stain. The aforementioned rates are similar to rates determined by PlatzChristensen and colleagues 9 . But the specificity rate of our study is smaller than the that determined by Platz-Christensen and colleagues.…”

“…These rates were 100%, 97%, and 94% respectively for the Gram stain method 9 . In our study, the observed sensitivity and specificity were 93% and 94% respectively for Pap smear, and 97% and 94% respectively for Gram stain.…”

Risk factors for sexually transmitted infections in women in rural Northeast Brazil

“…Interestingly, we have observed that in Pacoti, for many women, the main reason to have a Pap smear done was the presence of gynaecological complaints, usually an abnormal vaginal discharge, rather than the opportunity to participate at a cancer screening programme free of charge (F. A. Oliveira, unpublished observation). The Pap smear, although not a recommended method for the diagnosis of vaginal infections, has a sensitivity of 60% for the detection of Trichomonas vaginalis infection and 88% for bacterial vaginosis [21,22].…”

The Association between Copper Containing IUCD and Bacterial Vaginosis

“…Several studies indicated that this infection could lead to diverse upper genital tract infections. According to the literature data, women with BV have an increased relative risk of post partum endometritis, post cesarean wound infection, premature rupture of membranes, premature labor, intra-amniotic infection and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) (8,9,10,11,12). In the literature, the relation between several infections such as actinomycosis, trichomoniasis and IUCD was reported (13,14).…”