Bacterrial Vaginosis

Abstract

Among the causes of vaginal discharge, bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the commonest in most communities, with variation in the prevalence from one place to another and according to the method used and the group of patients studied. Evidences are available that, the disease is associated with preterm labour, pre mature rupture of the membranes, post-induced abortion pelvic inflammatory disease, post-hysterectomy vaginal cuff cellulitis and plasma cell endometeritis1-4. Moreover in pregnant women bacterial vaginosis may be associated with amniotic fluid infection
and post-partum endometeritis4. In Sudan, the disease was first reported in 2000 by Kafi and his coworkers who found bacterial vaginosis to be the commonest cause of vaginal discharge (17.2%) in a suburban Sudanese community. It's occurrence rate was almost equal to that of trichomonasis and gonorrhea (collectively) 5. Despite these facts to date, bacterial vagionosis is almost neglected as a cause of vaginal discharge, evidenced by lack of practical advices to the laboratory personnel on how to diagnose it. Moreover, no clinical attention is paid to the disease and its possible clinical outcome. The aim of this article is to throw light on this important subject particularly history, epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis and management. It is hoped that, this will draw the attention of the gynecologists and laboratory personnel to this subject.