The gram stain smear: A screening test for genital mycoplasmas from vaginal specimens prior to culture.

Abstract

Result of 168 vaginal specimens from women examined for genital mycoplasmas showed that more of these organisms were isolated from specimens whose Gram stain smears were devoid of Gram positive bacilli (GPB) (43%) as against those whose smears contain GPB (22.1%). This result was found to be statistically significant (p< 0.05). The 17 (25%) GPB positive smears also positive for genital mycoplasmas were subjected to the GPB positivity rating (GPR) and an inverse relationship between the two was established. The Gram stain smear can serve as a screening test for genital mycoplasmas from vaginal specimens prior to culture especially in district hospital laboratories where the special cultural facilities needed for mycoplasmas are insufficient or lacking.


Key Words: Vaginal specimens, genital mycoplasmas, Gram positive bacilli.


Journal of Biomedical Investigation 2004;2(1): 26-30