Isolation of Gardnerella vaginalis from high vaginal swabs

Vaginal swabs from 2715 consecutive unselected women with vaginal discharge were examined for Gardnerella vaginalis, Candida albicans and Trichomonas vaginalis. Of 2715 women, 2043 had non-specific vaginitis and G. vaginalis was isolated from 269 cases (13.2%). Thirty five of the strains were isolated together with C. albicans, eight with T. vaginalis, six with Bacteroides species and three each with group B Streptococcus and Staphylococcus aureus. Two hundred and sixteen (80%) of the isolates were from females between the age of 20 and 34. All 269 strains hydrolysed hippurate and fermented starch; 161 (60%) were isolated from swabs without clue cells. Although facts suggest that vaginal discharge in most of these cases had been associated with G. vaginalis, a possible aetiological role for other micro-organisms has not been ruled out. However, successful therapy with metronidazole in 80% of those cases suggests that G. vaginalis is one cause of non-specific vaginitis. The prevalence rate of G. vaginalis in 160 randomly selected women without vaginal discharge was 5%.