Author/Authors :
Khandelwal Baruah, Frincy Department of Microbiology - Gauhati Medical College - Assam, India , Sharma, Ajanta Department of Microbiology - Gauhati Medical College - Assam, India , Das, Chanakya Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology - Gauhati Medical College - Assam, India , Kumar Hazarika, Naba Department of Microbiology - Gauhati Medical College - Assam, India , Halim Hussain, Jasmin Department of Microbiology - Gauhati Medical College - Assam, India
Abstract :
Background and Objectives: Bacterial vaginosis is a risk factor for obstetric infections, various adverse outcomes
of pregnancy and pelvic inflammatory disease. The objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence of bacterial
vaginosis in women attending Gynaecology Outpatient Department (O.P.D) and sexually transmitted disease (S.T.D.)
clinic and to assess the role of Gardnerella vaginalis as an etiological agent of bacterial vaginosis.
Materials and Methods: Two hundred women attending Gynaecology O.P.D and S.T.D. clinic with symptoms suggesting
lower genital tract infection were included in the study. pH of the vaginal discharge was measured and three high vaginal
swabs were collected. Bacterial vaginosis was diagnosed using Amsel’s criteria and Nugent’s method. Gardnerella
vaginalis was isolated and identified by standard methods.
Results: Prevalence of bacterial vaginosis using Amsel’s criteria and Gram stain scoring method was found to be 51.5%
and 49% respectively. Gardnerella vaginalis was isolated in only 8.7% cases of bacterial vaginosis.
Conclusion: Our study showed a relatively high prevalence of bacterial vaginosis in the population under study. Women
attending various healthcare facilities should be screened and treated properly to prevent recurrence. Low isolation rate of
Gardnerella vaginalis may be attributed to factors like poor viability and fastidiousness of the organism to grow in various media.