MICROBIOLOGICAL PROFILE IN WOMEN WITH SYMPTOMATIC VAGINAL DISCHARGE

Abstract

The study's main goals are to determine the prevalence of symptomatic vaginal discharge in different age groups and the microbiological makeup of women who report with symptomatic vaginal discharge. The study was conducted in 200 cases. A detailed clinical history and examination of all cases were done. A speculum examination done to visualize cervix and vagina , swabs were collected from the posterior fornix of vagina and sent for microbiological examination. Following tests were done a) Gram staining and Nugent scoring system used, based on the morphology of the bacteria, score >/= to 7 is considered positive for bacterial vaginosis, b) Wet mount preparation done to look for motility of Trichomonas, c) KOH preparation, d) Swabs are inoculated in Blood agar, Mac Conkey's agar and Sabouraud's dextrose agar. Maximum patients had associated symptoms as foul smell (27%),followed by itching(26%) ,others like abdominal pain(11.5%),burning micturition(6%) , heavy menstrual bleeding(4.5%) and low backache(2.5%). Majority had homogeneous discharge(44.5%), followed by mucopurulent(19.5%),curdy white(18%) and yellowish (18%). Incidence of bacterial vaginosis is maximum(42.5%), followed by vaginal candidiasis (21.5%),other non specific (17%) and Trichomonas(8%). In around 11% of cases no cause was identified.