Comparison of Microbiological Methods for the Diagnosis of Vulvovaginal İnfections and to Determine the Effects of Predispozing Factors

The aim of our study was to compare the methods used in the diagnosis ofvulvovaginal infections and determine the prevalence of infection and the effects ofpredisposing factors. 250 patients who were applied to Obstetrics and Gynecologyclinics, with the complain of vaginal discharge and 50 patients with vaginal nondischargewere included to the study. Vaginal samples of the patients were examinedaccording to pH, KOH, direct examination, Gram stain, Giemsa stain and bacterialculture. Patient's personal information, educational status, hygienic conditions, statusof birth control and complaints in order to investigate the effects of predisposingfactors that contains the information filled in a questionnaire with face to faceinterviewing.Vulvovaginal infections were more common in women in reproductive age.There was no relation between infection and education, employment, marital status,some of the hygienic properties, the number of weekly sexual intercourse. Methodsof contraception in general seem to be a risk factor for vaginal infections. In ourstudy, G. vaginalis was found in 106 patients (35.3 %), T. vaginalis in 85 patients(28.3 %), Candida species in 84 patients (28 %). Gram stain method was taken as thereference test for the G. vaginalis. Sensitivity of direct examination was found 72.6%. Direct examination method was taken as the reference test for the T. vaginalis.Sensitivity of Gram stain was found 95.2 % and giemsa stain 68.2 %. Culture methodwas taken as the reference test for the Candida species. Sensitivity of directexamination was found 42.8 % and Gram stain 60.7 %. 185 (61.6 %) potentiallypathogen was yielded with culture method. Microorganisms yielded in the cultureswere as follows, 30.2 % of C. albicans, 30.2 % of G. vaginalis, 15.6 % of E. coli,8.64 % of non albicans candida, 1 % of S. aureus, 1 % of Enterococcus spp., and 0.5% of group B streptococci.In conclusion, clinical symptoms were not reliable diagnostic parameters anddiagnostic laboratory methods were found as necessary for the correction of thediagnosis of vaginal infections and any of the tests alone was not sufficient for thediagnosis of vaginal infections.Key words: G. vaginalis, T. vaginalis, Candida spp. , culture, KOH, pH