[Gardnerella vaginalis infection. Clinical aspects, diagnosis and therapy]

The Gardnerella vaginalis-infection of the urogenital tract is of clinical importance in females and of epidemiological importance in males. Females suffer from Bacterial Vaginosis, with a foul-smelling grey vaginal discharge with a pH of 5.0-5.5 which contains "clue cells", and from Sepsis. The isolation and identification of G. vaginalis i necessary in man. If G. vaginalis-infection is suspected, simultaneous infections with further STD-agents such as N. gonorrhoeae, C. trachomatis etc should be excluded. Metronidazole (1 g/day for 5 days) is the drug of choice in G. vaginalis-infection.