English

Abstract

Bacterial vaginosis (BV), an alteration of vaginal flora involving a decrease in Lactobacilli and predominance of anaerobic bacteria, is the most common cause of vaginal complaints for women of childbearing age .Causative agents include Gardnerella vaginalis, facultative lactobacilli, Mycoplasma hominis, Viridans streptococci & anaerobic bacteria. The most frequent manifestations of genitourinary candidiasis is vulvovaginal candidiasis & is diagnosed in 40 % of women with vaginal complaints. The present study was undertaken to study the occurrence of Bacterial vaginosis & Vulvovaginal candidiasis in women with vaginal complaints. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 100 High vaginal swabs with H/O white discharge per vaginum for a period of 6 months from June 2011.Swabs were stained by Grams method & were cultured. RESULTS: Out of 100 samples, in 35(35%)Gram smear findings were normal & no growth in culture. 26(26%)samples had polymorphs with Gardnerella morphotype, gram negative curved rods, fusiforms & Lactobacilli were absent/present in low numbers(1 to 2+), the smear was interpreted as consistent with BV. 15 samples (15%) had the growth of Candida spp. In the remaining 24 samples, the Gram stain findings had only vaginal epithelial cells with Lactobacilli, but the culture had the growth of Group B Streptococcus 10(10%), E. coli & coliforms 10(10%),Enterococcus spp 14(14%)which could just be colonisers. CONCLUSION: Bacterial vaginosis is the predominant cause of leucorrhoea (26%) followed by vulvovaginal candidiasis accounting for 15 % of the cases. Detection of intrapartum vaginal colonisation of Group B Streptococci, E. coli & coliforms & Enterococcus spp. in pregnant women is of significance as it can get transmitted to the neonate & cause sepsis.