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Symptomatic candidiasis: Using self sampled vaginal smears to establish the presence of Candida , lactobacilli, and Gardnerella vaginalis
Author(s) -
Engberts M. K.,
Boon M. E.,
van Haaften M.,
Heintz A. P. M.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
diagnostic cytopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.417
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1097-0339
pISSN - 8755-1039
DOI - 10.1002/dc.20708
Subject(s) - gardnerella vaginalis , medicine , vaginal flora , vaginitis , vaginal smear , lactobacillus , bacterial vaginosis , gram staining , gynecology , vagina , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , bacteria , surgery , antibiotics , estrous cycle , genetics
In a prospective cohort study, 10 symptomatic women with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis were taught how to prepare vaginal smears of their own vaginal fluids on days 7, 14, 21, and 28. The 40 smears were stained with the PAS‐method and examined by three different cytopathologists for presence of Candida . Thereafter, the smears were restained with Giemsa‐stain to determine presence of lactobacilli, Gardnerella vaginalis (“clue cells”) and neutrophils. All three cytopathologists unequivocally established Candida blastospores and (pseudo)hyphae in 27 out of the 40 PAS‐stained vaginal smears, whereas in the remaining 13 smears Candida was not found. All 10 patients had Candida in their smears during the second half of their menstrual cycle. Self sampled smears prove to be reliable for establishing the presence of Candida in symptomatic patients with candidiasis. Candida is associated with a lactobacillus ‐predominated vaginal flora, but with the absence of Gardnerella vaginalis . Further studies may be directed towards the interaction between the various members of the vaginal flora. This study should open molecular methodology for determining the possible interactions of lactobacilli and Candida . Diagn. Cytopathol. 2007;35:635–639. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.