The microbial flora of the vagina and cervix was assessed qualitatively and semiquantitatively in 40 women attending an intrauterine contraceptive device clinic. Both sites harboured many types of macroorganism, the mean number of microbial types isolated being five from the vagina and four from the cervix. Typical lactobacilli were detected in 61% of vaginal and in 53% of cervical specimens; faecal bacteria, including anaerobes, were even more frequently found at both sites. No differences in the microbial populations at either the vagina or the cervix were detected after fitting of the devices, in the different weeks of the menstrual cycle, or with various previously used contraceptive methods. (+info)
In vitro adhesiveness and biotype of Gardnerella vaginalis strains in relation to the occurrence of clue cells in vaginal discharges.
(10/24)
Haemagglutination and tissue culture adherence tests using a McCoy cell line were used to examine the adherence characteristics of 105 strains of Gardnerella vaginalis. Each strain represented one isolate per patient. For each patient, a direct smear of vaginal discharge was examined for clue cells. The relation between in vitro adherence and the presence of clue cells was examined. There seemed to be no appreciable relation between the presence of clue cells in smears and the haemagglutinating activity of strains. In contrast, adherence as judged by the McCoy tissue culture system showed a significant relation to the presence of clue cells (p less than 0.001). Though both adhesive characteristics were not inhibited by mannose, the mechanism of haemagglutination of human red cells appeared to differ from that of adherence of tissue culture cells. The findings imply that the clue cell phenomenon is due to attachment of adherent strains of G vaginalis to epithelial cells. Adherent strains of G vaginalis may play a part in the pathogenesis of bacterial vaginosis. (+info)
Volatile fatty acid findings in vaginal fluid compared with symptoms, signs, other laboratory results, and susceptibility to tinidazole of malodorous vaginal discharges.
(11/24)
The relevance of volatile fatty acids as a diagnostic test in 79 women with abnormal vaginal discharge was evaluated by a blind, randomised, and placebo controlled trial of tinidazole as a single oral 2 g dose. Automated gas chromatography of ether extracts of discharges taken before treatment showed volatile fatty acids in 18. Volatile fatty acids correlated with malodorous, colour, and microscopically assessed altered bacterial flora and clue cells. At follow up one week later, the odour, colour, and volatile fatty acids in the vaginal discharge of women treated with tinidazole had become normal more often than in those receiving placebo. The disappearance of volatile fatty acids correlated with clinically assessed improvement in women treated with tinidazole. The volatile fatty acid test as an indicator of anaerobic bacterial flora is objective, technically simple and fast, has few problems of sample size and transportation, and may be useful in the aetiological classification and follow up treatment of non-specific vaginal discharges. (+info)
Vaginal microbial flora in normal young women.
(12/24)
Vaginal swabs were taken from 1498 women attending a family planning clinic. The flora was assessed in the absence of any information about the women to whom the swabs related. Yeasts and fungi were present in 311 women (21%) and were no more prevalent among "pill" users than others. Candida albicans was significantly associated with vulval itching and with a vaginal discharge described as heavier than normal or curdy on clinical examination, though these abnormalities were present in only a minority of women with the organism. Trichomonas vaginalis was found in 14 women (1%) and was associated with abnormalities of vaginal discharge in all but one. Gram-negative anaerobic bacilli were significantly more common in women with a troublesome vaginal discharge and those who used an intrauterine device than others. No associations were found between fungi other than C albicans or the other bacteria sought and either symptoms or clinical abnormalities of vaginal discharge. (+info)
Cryosurgery for benign cervical lesions.
(13/24)
Fifty patients with cervical erosions causing symptoms were treated with cryosurgery. Healing was complete in 41 (91%) out of 45 patients who were seen six weeks later, and in 21 patients who were followed up in greater detail the rate of symptomatic relief was high. All the patients who were treated without anaesthesia found the procedure acceptable. Only one patient noted post-operative bleeding, and this was minimal. (+info)
Group G streptococcal pneumonia and sepsis in a newborn infant.
(14/24)
A case of neonatal pneumonia and sepsis caused by a group G Streptococcus is described. Clinical and microbiological aspects of group G streptococci are compared with those of group B streptococci. (+info)
The management of vaginal discharge in general practice.
(15/24)
A group of general practitioners in active practice were asked to report how they preferred to manage the symptoms of vaginal discharge presented by a woman in her twenties. Subsequently the same practitioners reported their management of such patients in their practice.A shortfall was found for all practitioners between their declared intention and their actual practice.This method of analysis offers a way of working towards a consensus in clinical care and also of auditing medical performance in general practice. (+info)
The prevalence and clinical diagnosis of vaginal candidosis in non-pregnant patients with vaginal discharge and pruritus vulvae.
(16/24)
Two hundred and thirteen nonpregnant female patients complaining of vaginal discharge or pruritus vulvae were recruited to the study by 45 general practitioners in the Yorkshire region. Of these patients, 102 (48 per cent) were found to have demonstrable vaginal mycosis on an initial swab and a further 10 to be swab positive after one week of placebo treatment. The total prevalence in this population of women consulting their practitioner was thus 52.6 per cent.Analysis of symptomatology and of physical findings showed that a clinical diagnosis of vaginal mycosis cannot be made with acceptable reliability.The occurrence of spontaneous swab conversion is noted, and its possible origins are discussed. (+info)