Vaginal flora and correlation with cytological aspects

Authors

  • Hygia Maria Nunes Guerreiro Universidade Federal da Bahia; Faculdade de Farmácia; Departamento de Farmácia Qualitativa
  • Helenemarie Schaer Barbosa Universidade Federal da Bahia; Faculdade de Farmácia; Departamento de Farmácia Qualitativa
  • João Lycio Conceição Filho Universidade Federal da Bahia; Faculdade de Farmácia; Departamento de Farmácia Qualitativa
  • Lúcia Maria Tishchenko Universidade Federal da Bahia; Faculdade de Farmácia; Departamento de Farmácia Qualitativa
  • Suraia Hagge Universidade Federal da Bahia; Faculdade de Farmácia; Departamento de Farmácia Qualitativa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89101986000600003

Keywords:

Vagina^i2^smicrobiol, Vagina^i2^scitol, Vaginitis^i2^sdiagno, Cervicitis^i2^sdiagno

Abstract

This work is an attempt to throw more light on the pathogenicity of microorganisms of the vaginal flora, specially those of the so-called nonspecific vaginitis. An attempt is made to determine the value of cytology as a method for the identification of vaginal flora, by the study of microbiologic cultures, fresh and Gram stain direct exam and citology of the cervico-vaginal specimens of 97 patients. Among microorganisms with clinical significance, Gardnerella vaginalis was the most frequently isolated organism, 48,4%, followed by Trichomonas vaginalis, 10.3%, Candida albicans, 7.2% and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, 1.1%. Cytologic changes typical of cervicitis and/or vaginitis were seen in the majority of cases of G. vaginalis, C. albicans, and in all cases of T.vaginalis. The importance of a semi-quantitative evaluation of the vaginal flora on the culture plates was stressed. In the evaluation of cytology as a diagnostic method of the vaginal microflora, we observed that it was the best of the two methods used in the identification of T.vaginalis and that it was capable of detecting the presence of about 50% of C.albicans. In the diagnosis of G. vaginalis cytology was positive in 48.9% of cases. It is of note that of 31 cases of positive cytologic smear, eight had negative culture for G. vaginalis, even though organisms such as Haemophilus sp or Corynebacterium sp had been isolated in these cases.

Published

1986-12-01

Issue

Section

Original Articles

How to Cite

Guerreiro, H. M. N., Barbosa, H. S., Conceição Filho, J. L., Tishchenko, L. M., & Hagge, S. (1986). Vaginal flora and correlation with cytological aspects . Revista De Saúde Pública, 20(6), 415-420. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89101986000600003