Spectrum of infections in cervico-vaginal pap smears

Abstract

Background: Cervical infections are commonly encountered problems occurring in the women of the reproductive age group. Pap smear, a screening test for carcinoma cervix is a simple, quick test that can also be used for diagnosing cervico-vaginal infections. The present study was undertaken to study the role of Pap smears in diagnosing cervico-vaginal infections and to study the spectrum of infections occurring in this region. Methods: A retrospective data of 1252 subjects of pap smears in R L Jalappa Hospital and Research Centre. The samples obtained were stained with Papanicolaou stain (Pap) and examined for bacteria, viruses, parasite or fungal infections. Results: : The overall frequency of normal, inadequate, infectious, inflammatory and neoplastic smears were 335(26.76%), 49(3.92%), 627(50.07%), 173(13.82%) and 68 (5.43%) respectively. The presenting complaints in <30age group were white discharge per vagina (WDPV) (60.6%) followed by pain abdomen (7.78%), where as in >30 age group it was WDPV(57.22%) followed by prolapse(10.29%) and dysfunctional uterine bleeding(2.77%). Smears showing lactobacilli were 393(62.67%). Among the infective smears, 173 cases (13.82%), the cytologic diagnosis was nonspecific inflammation. Other important infections were Gardnerella infection 115(18.34%),followed by fungal infection (candidiasis) 70(11.16%), trichomonas vaginalis 37(5.90%) and leptothrix 10(1.59%) and herpes 1(0.15%), Chlamydia 1(0.15%) and aspergillus 1(0.15%). Conclusion: The cervical smear the most simple and a quick test which is beneficial in diagnosing cervical infections. However, other ancillary tests need to be employed for confirmatory diagnosis.