GRAM STAIN FOR BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS (BV), VAGINAL SWAB

BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS IS A SYNDROME MARKED BY AN INCREASED VAGINAL PH, MILKY CREAMY DISCHARGE AND AMINE OR FISHY ODOR. MICROBIOLOGICALLY BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS IS CHARACTERIZED BY A SHIFT IN THE VAGINAL FLORA FROM THE DOMINANT FLORA OF LACTOBACILLUS SPP. TO A MIXED VAGINAL FLORA THAT INCLUDES GARDNERELLA VAGINALIS, BACTEROIDES SPP. AND MOBILUNCUS SPP. THIS SCORED GRAM STAIN FOR DIAGNOSIS OF BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS SHOULD BE USED ONLY FOR WOMEN IN CHILDBEARING YEARS OR POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN ON ESTROGEN REPLACEMENT THERAPY. BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS IS AN IMPORTANT GENITAL SYNDROME BECAUSE IT AFFECTS A LARGE NUMBER OF WOMEN AND IT HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE PREGNANCY COMPLICATIONS OF AMNIOTIC FLUID INFECTION, PREMATURITY, CHORIOAMNIONITIS AND POST CESAREAN ENDOMETRITIS.