Prevalence ofcervical pathogens in women with and without inflammatory changes

Objective-To assess correlation between nonspecific cervicitis, inflammation, or exudate on cervical smears tests and confirmed presence of known cervical pathogens. Design-Investigation of women attending a family practice clinic for smear test by microbiological screening for Chlamydia. trachomatis, Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplama urealyticum, Trichomonas vaginalis, Candida species, group B streptococcus, GardnereUa vaginalis, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Setting-Family practice teaching clinic in a university hospital. Patients-411 women presenting for a smear test. Main outcome measures-Prevalence of genital infections associated with presence or absence of inflammatory changes on cervical smear. Results-Of the 132 women with inflammatory changes on cervical smear, 64 (48%) had positive cultures. Of the 248 without inflammatory changes, 117 (47%) had positive cultures. Subgroup analysis on individual organisms also showed no significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion-Reports of inflammatory changes on cervical smear testing are a poor indicator of infection.