study on the common microorganisms causing vaginitis

ABSTRACT

Inflammation of the vaginal mucosa is a common clinical syndrome. Women often complain of an abnormal discharge and possibly other symptoms such as offensive odor or itching. Trichomonas vaginalis .Candida albicans with other species of Candida are well recognized causes of vaginitis Another type of vaginitis referred to as bacterial vaginosis is believed to be caused by Gardnerella vaginalis However, a purulent discharge from the endocervix can be observed in some cases of cevicitis, the endocervix is the site from which Neisseria gonorrhoea is most frequently isolated in women with gonococcal infections. This study was concerned with the isolation of common microorganisms which may present in female abnormal vaginal discharge. The study was conducted in the period from November 1992 to August 1993 on 480 female patients presented with vaginal discharge with or without pruritis vulvae attended the Gynecological and Antenatal Outpatient Clinics in Baghdad Medical City compared to 50 females complaining of gynecological problems other than infection attended the same clinic. Different laboratory methods were carried out during this work to isolate Trichomonas vaginalis, Candida species, Gardnerella vaginalis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Among 480 female patients subjected to this study, 92 were positive for Trichomonas vaginalis [19.16%], Candida species were found in 118 patients [24.58%], Gardnerella vaginalis was reported in 94 [19.58%], while Neisseria gonorrhoea was seen in 8 patients [1.66%]. Infection with both Trichomonas vaginalis and Gardnerella vaginalis was reported in 22 patients [23.91%], simultaneous infection of Trichomonas vaginalis and Candida species was reported in 5 cases [5.43%], and in 7 patients combined infection of both Trichomonas vaginalis and Neisseria gonorrhoea was seen [7.6%]. The highest rate of combined infection was seen in infected cases with both Trichomonas vaginalis and Gardnerella vaginalis, since both favor the growth in similar environment especially in [PH>4.5]. Trichomonas vaginalis might be responsible for the change in normal vaginal flora and may therefore precipitate bacterial vaginosis