Diagnosis and therapy of nonspecific vaginitis. Correlation between KOH-test, clue cells and microbiology.

A clinical and quantitative microbiological study was performed on 32 women with fishy odour of the vaginal fluid. This odour could be intensified by the addition of one drop of 10% potassium hydroxide. Clue cells were found to be present in all cases. Gardnerella vaginalis was isolated from the vaginal fluid in 97%, and large quantities of mixed anaerobes in 100% of the patients. The therapy with metronidazole, 400 mg twice daily for 5 days, was successful in 22 out of 24 patients. After therapy the fishy odour and the clue cells were no longer detectable. G. vaginalis and anaerobes could only be isolated sporadically and in small quantities. The isolation rate of Lactobacillus species increased from 3% to 86% within one week.