Pap smear follow-up of possible role of mucopurulent exudate as a prognosticator of a negative pregnancy outcome

Abstract

Our objective was to study a cohort of women by various means to detect sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and to correlate the presence of mucopurulent exudate (PEX) on Papanicolaou (Pap) smears with pregnancy outcome. Bacteriologic cultures taken from swabs for chlamydia and gonorrhea were correlated with GenProbe results. Smears were examined for trichomonas, yeast, HPV, obscuring mucopurulent exudate, and squamous intraepithelial abnormalities. There was no positive correlation between STD and negative pregnancy outcome. Mucopurulent exudate on Pap smears was very high in this population. Continuing study of this population of women is needed to see if larger cohorts will demonstrate any positive correlations between PEX and pregnancy outcome. Placing women with obscuring mucopurulent exudate in a “high‐risk” category for complications may prevent adverse side effects to the birth product. The Pap smear works as well as the Gram stain for detection of bacterial vaginosis and cervicitis. Eliminating the Gram stain from routine pelvic exam results in cost savings. Diagn. Cytopathol. 1999;21:4–6. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

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

“…In addition, Prey 21 reported the necessity of the presence of coccobacilli-type microorganisms for the diagnosis of BV by Pap smear. Bedrossian and colleagues 22 reported that Pap smear gives results as good as Gram stain in the diagnosis of BV and cervicitis. They also reported that the exclusion of Gram stain from the routine examination method might decrease the economic cost.…”

Expanding Horizon of Cervical Cancer Screening by Involving Antenatal Patients

“…16 In this study, prevalence of abnormal smears was correlated with the risk factors including age, parity, residence area, gestational age, gravidity, socio-economic status, occupation, age at first intercourse, number of sexual partners, smoking, history of contraception. There were 152 (50.67%) abnormal smears including inflammatory smears, whose significance has been a matter of much interest in relation to pregnancy complications and is being currently studied.…”

Permanent diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis: Gram stain or Papanicolaou stain?

“…Dear Dr. Bedrossian: The series of articles recently published concerning the cytologic diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis (BV) [1][2][3][4] has spurred me to express some considerations on this important subject, given that we were among the first to stress the use of the Pap smear for the diagnosis of BV in this journal in 1987. 5 BV is neither a nonspecific vaginitis nor a single microorganism vaginitis as Gardner and Dukes 6 first thought and now many clinicians and some pathologists continue to use the term Gardnerella vaginitis.…”