Candida albicans and bacterial vaginosis can coexist on pap smears

摘要

Objective: The aim of our study was to study the relationship of blastospores and pseudohyphae in Papanicolaou (Pap) smears and Nugent scores for bacterial vaginosis (BV). Study Design: A total of 471 Pap smears with Candida albicans were reviewed. The presence of blastospores and pseudohyphae was established. The Pap smears were restained with the Gram stain method to evaluate the bacterial flora according to the Nugent scoring system. Results: Of the 471 Pap smears, blastospores and pseudohyphae were observed in 62.8% (296/471) and 37.2% (175/471) of the smears, and displayed symptoms in 4.4% (13/296) and 43.4% (76/175), respectively. A significant difference was found between these 2 groups (p < 0.0001). A positive BV Nugent score (≥ 7) was found in 22.1% (104/471) of the C. albicans cases. Blastospores and pseudohyphae with BV were 14.2% (42/296) and 35.4% (62/175), respectively. These high Nugent scores indicate statistically significant differences (p < 0.0001). Conclusion:C. albicans and BV can coexist. The presence of blastospores in these C. albicans cases was negatively related to symptoms.