The high vaginal swab in general practice: clinical correlates of possible pathogens

摘要

Clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of 286 women whose high vaginal swabs (HVS} submitted by their general practitioners showed pure, heavy growth ofStaphylococcus aureus, beta haemolytic streptococci groups A, C or G,Streptococcus milleri, Streptococcuspneumoniae orHaemophilus influenzaewere analysed. Women with group A, C and G streptococci frequently had clinical vulvovaginitis and although the numbers were too small for statistical confirmation,S. pneumoniaeandH. influenzaeappeared to cause clinical disease as well. The association ofS. aureusorS. milleriwith clinical vulvovaginitis was much less convincing. It seems relevant for laboratories tox report sensitivities for group A, C and G streptococci. Further research is needed to determine the pathogenicity ofS. pneumoniaeandH. influenzae.