Diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis in a routine diagnostic laboratory.

Vaginal swabs from 299 hospital and general practitioners' patients were examined for Gardnerella vaginalis by Gram film and by culture, G. vaginalis was isolated in 12% of cultures. Comparison between the 'clue' cell and culture methods suggested that the former is a rapid, acceptable routine screening method for the detection of G. vaginalis. The value of the traditional method of identifying G. vaginalis by sensitivity testing is questioned. All specimens were also examined by Gram film and culture, for the presence of Mobiluncus spp, which was detected in 8.4% of specimens by Gram film but only 0.7% by culture. From a questionnaire returned by 84% of clinicians, metronidazole was found to be the most commonly used antimicrobial agent for the treatment of G. vaginalis, and in all but one case appeared to be clinically effective.