Bacterial vaginosis is more frequently diagnosed in women with inflammatory changes on routinely performed Papanicolaou smear S. Baka, I. Tsirmpa, A. Chasiakou, E. Politi, I. Tsouma, A. Sianou, V. Gennimata, E. Kouskouni Department of Biopathology, Aretaieio Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece Background: Usually, most Materials/methods: Asymptomatic nonpregnant Results: A total of 1372 women (774 with laboratories reporting the results of women with or without inflammatory inflammatory and 598 without inflammation on the Pap cervical Papanicolaou (Pap) smears changes on routinely performed Pap smear and smear) with smear tests and vaginal as well tests comment on the possible recalled for cultures in the last four years were as cervical cultures participated in the study. presence of infection based on included in the study. Genital tract samples Out of the 774 women with inflammation on cytological criteria. The clinical (vaginal and cervical) were available for analysis. Pap test, 294 (38%) had negative cultures importance of these findings is Clinical specimens collected from patients were (normal flora present), while 480 (62%) unknown especially in asymptomatic inoculated onto appropriate plates for standard women had positive cultures with different women. This study was conducted to aerobic and anaerobic cultures and incubated at pathogens. In contrast, the group of women assess the possible association 37’0 C for 24h and 48h, respectively. A wet mount without inflammation on Pap test displayed between inflammatory changes as well as a gram-stained smear were examined increased percentage of negative cultures reported on Pap smears with the under microscope to obtain valuable information (63%, p<0.0001) and decreased percentage isolation of pathogens in the genital about the microorganisms present and to apply of positive cultures (37%, p<0.0001). Among tract of asymptomatic women. Nugent criteria for the diagnosis of bacterial the women with genital tract pathogens Conclusion: The results of our study vaginosis. The isolated pathogens were identified detected, bacterial vaginosis was diagnosed suggest that a report of inflammatory using the automated system VITEK 2 (BioMerieux, more frequently in both groups. Interestingly, changes on the cervical Pap smear Marcy l’Etoile, France). Furthermore, the presence in the group with inflammation on Pap smear, cannot be used to reliably predict the of Chlamydia trachomatis as well as Ureaplasma the women diagnosed with bacterial presence of a genital tract infection, urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis, in the vaginosis were significantly more compared especially in asymptomatic women. specimens studied, was determined using the to the group without inflammation However, bacterial vaginosis was COBAS AMPLICOR Chlamydia trachomatis test (p<0.0001). The isolation of other pathogens diagnosed more often in women with (Roche Diagnostics, USA) and Mycoplasma IST2 such as Candida species, Chlamydia inflammation on the Pap smear. (BioMerieux, Marcy l’Etoile, France), respectively. trachomatis, T. vaginalis and the cases Statistical analysis was performed using chi diagnosed as aerobic vaginitis did not differ square test and values ≤ 0.05 were considered as between the two groups. significant. .