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The following text is from an archived Red Book® edition and may not reflect current recommendations or information. To view the current edition, click here.

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Section 3. Summaries of Infectious Diseases

Bacterial Vaginosis

Clinical Manifestations
Etiology
Epidemiology
Diagnostic Tests
Treatment
Isolation of the Hospitalized Patient
Control Measures

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CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS: Bacterial vaginosis (BV), a syndrome primarily occurring in sexually active adolescent and adult females, is characterized by changes in vaginal flora. Symptoms may include a thin white or grey, homogenous, adherent vaginal discharge with a fishy odor. Bacterial vaginosis may be asymptomatic in up to 50% of cases and usually is not associated with abdominal pain, significant pruritus, or dysuria.

Vaginitis and vulvitis in prepubertal girls usually have a nonspecific cause and rarely are manifestations of BV. In prepubertal girls, other predisposing causes of vaginal discharge include foreign bodies or infections attributable to group A streptococci, herpes simplex virus, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Trichomonas vaginalis, or Shigella species or other enteric bacteria.


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ETIOLOGY: The microbiologic cause of BV has not been delineated clearly. Typical microbiologic findings of specimens obtained from the vagina include an increase in concentrations of Gardnerella vaginalis, Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma species, and anaerobic bacteria and a marked decrease in the concentration of Lactobacillus species.


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EPIDEMIOLOGY: Bacterial vaginosis is the most prevalent vaginal infection in sexually active adolescents and adult females. It may . . . [Go to Full Text]


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