Gram Stain for Bacterial Vaginosis Vaginal Swab Cost & Procedure

Many standard methods are used for gram staining of the vaginal discharge.

Gram staining helps access Typical gram-positive bacilli or abnormal gram-negative coccobacilli and rods.

The primary causative agent of Bacterial Vaginosis is Gardnerella Vaginalis. Mycoplasma hominis is also considered the agent causing Bacterial Vaginosis.

Vaginal Culture

The vaginal swabs are collected, then cultured on 5% blood agar, Sabouraud dextrose agar, and eosin methylene blue agar. The plates are then incubated(24–48 h) at 37°C. Positive cultures for Gardnerella vaginalis are the results of bacterial vaginosis.

The positive cultures will show the overgrowth of Gardnerella Vaginalis.

Vaginal Culture Test

A ‘fishy’ odor is the characteristic feature of bacterial vaginitis.

The whiff test is used for the confirmation of this condition.

In this test, a small amount of potassium hydroxide is added to the microscopic slide, which contains vaginal discharge.

A characteristic Fishy odor is the confirmation of the presence of this condition.

To check the acidity, A swab of discharge is put on the litmus paper.

Ph more significant than 4.5 is alkaline and thus results in bacterial vaginosis.

Bacterial vaginosis can also be confirmed by clue cells other than the whiff test.

The clue cells are the(epithelial) cells coated with the bacteria.

Placing a drop of sodium chloride solution on the slide, which contains vaginal discharge, helps detect the presence of clue cells.

Bacterial Vaginosis

It is the leading cause of the causation of vaginitis, a sexually transmitted disease. During the reproductive age, bacterial vaginosis is the most likely vaginal infection.

Symptoms

• Vaginal discharge
• Burning urination

Complications

• urinary tract infection
• preterm labor
• Chorioamnionitis
• Puerperal endometriosis
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
•  Cervical Dysplasia is one of the most common and important complications of bacterial Vaginosis

Causes

• Bacterial vaginosis may cause a rise in sexually transmitted infections, such as HIV, and may cause complications during pregnancy.
• Iron deficiency may cause bacterial Vaginosis during early pregnancy.
• Bacterial Vaginosis is a risk factor for sexually transmitted infections, pelvic inflammatory disease, HIV infection

Differential diagnosis of Bacterial Vaginosis

• Candidiasis
• Normal vaginal discharge
• Aerobic vaginitis 

Treatment-

Metronidazole and clindamycin are antibiotics used for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis.

These antibiotics are also preferred during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.

To avoid reoccurrence, probiotics are used.