Kini Hema, Kini Jyoti R, Suman Ethel, Rai Sharada
Departments of Pathology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
Departments of Microbiology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
Diagn Cytopathol. 2017 Mar;45(3):191-194. doi: 10.1002/dc.23658. Epub 2017 Jan 13.
Contaminants from various sources are curious findings in cervicovaginal smears and pose diagnostic challenges especially when they need to be distinguished from pathogens. Candidiasis is the most frequently encountered fungal infection but fungal contaminants are relatively common. Detection of fruiting bodies and spores of Aspergillus species is uncommon and may represent either a true infection or contamination. This study was undertaken to evaluate the presence of fungal spores, hyphae, and fruiting bodies in routine cervical smears and distinguish a true infection from contamination.
Conventional cervicovaginal smears collected from women were incidentally found to have fungal fruiting bodies and spores. All smears received in the Cytology Department during that one month were reviewed for the presence of these elements.
Five out of the 120 smears, received from the outpatient department over a period of three consecutive days, showed evidence of fungal organisms. The patients were 28-59 years of age. While four patients were asymptomatic, only one patient complained of minimal vaginal discharge. All were immunocompetent. Cervicovaginal smears were prepared as part of routine screening. Fungal fruiting bodies, branching hyphae and numerous spores were seen in otherwise normal smears. Culture of scrapings from the surface of the wooden spatulas grew Aspergillus niger.
Contamination of Pap smears by fungus must be distinguished from true infection, the latter being supported by positive clinical findings and the presence of significant inflammation in the smears. Literature review was done to see the range of contaminants detected in Pap smears. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2017;45:191-194. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
来自各种来源的污染物在宫颈阴道涂片检查中是令人好奇的发现，尤其在需要将它们与病原体区分开来时，会带来诊断挑战。念珠菌病是最常见的真菌感染，但真菌污染物相对较为常见。检测到曲霉菌属的子实体和孢子并不常见，可能代表真正的感染或污染。本研究旨在评估常规宫颈涂片检查中真菌孢子、菌丝和子实体的存在情况，并区分真正的感染与污染。
偶然发现从女性收集的常规宫颈阴道涂片中有真菌子实体和孢子。对细胞学部门在那一个月收到的所有涂片进行了这些成分存在情况的检查。
在连续三天从门诊部收到的120份涂片中，有5份显示有真菌生物的迹象。患者年龄在28至59岁之间。4名患者无症状，只有1名患者抱怨有少量阴道分泌物。所有患者免疫功能正常。宫颈阴道涂片是作为常规筛查的一部分制备的。在其他方面正常的涂片中可见真菌子实体、分支菌丝和大量孢子。从木质刮片表面刮取物的培养物培养出黑曲霉。
必须将真菌对巴氏涂片的污染与真正的感染区分开来，后者有阳性临床发现和涂片中存在明显炎症支持。进行了文献综述以了解巴氏涂片中检测到的污染物范围。诊断细胞病理学。2017；45：191 - 194。©2016威利期刊公司。
