Donders Gilbert G G, Donders Francesca, Bellen Gert, Depuydt Christophe, Eggermont Natalie, Michiels Thirsa, Lule John, Byamughisa Jacobat
Femicare vzw, Clinical Research for Women, Tienen, Belgium; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital Antwerpen, Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, General Hospital H Hart, Tienen, Belgium.
Faculty of Medicine, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2016 Jun;85(2):227-30. doi: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2015.12.018. Epub 2015 Dec 28.
Is self-assessed vaginal pH measurement to detect abnormal vaginal bacterial microflora (AVF) an adequate prescreening method for detection of genital sexually transmitted infections (STIs)?
A total of 360 Ugandan women tested themselves with a gloved finger and a pH color strip. PCR for bacterial vaginosis (BV)-associated bacteria was tested by PCR for Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, and/or Atopobium vaginae, while the STIs were diagnosed by positive PCR for Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma genitalium, and/or Trichomonas vaginalis.
A strong correlation was found between self-assessed pH values and BV-associated bacteria (P<0.0001), but not with STIs, not as single infections, nor in general.
Self-measured vaginal pH correlated well with markers of high-risk microflora types such as BV or aerobic vaginitis, but not with STIs. Hence, in a screening program addressing AVF in low-resource countries, extra specific tests are required to exclude STIs.
自我评估阴道pH值以检测异常阴道细菌微生物群（AVF）是否是一种用于检测生殖器性传播感染（STIs）的充分预筛查方法？
共有360名乌干达女性用戴手套的手指和pH试纸进行自我检测。通过针对人型支原体、解脲脲原体和/或阴道阿托波菌的聚合酶链反应（PCR）检测细菌性阴道病（BV）相关细菌，而性传播感染通过沙眼衣原体、淋病奈瑟菌、生殖支原体和/或阴道毛滴虫的PCR阳性结果进行诊断。
自我评估的pH值与BV相关细菌之间存在强相关性（P<0.0001），但与性传播感染无关，无论是单一感染还是总体情况。
自我测量的阴道pH值与高危微生物群类型（如BV或需氧菌性阴道炎）的标志物相关性良好，但与性传播感染无关。因此，在资源匮乏国家针对AVF的筛查项目中，需要额外的特定检测来排除性传播感染。
