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. 1993 May 1;306(6886):1173–1174. doi: 10.1136/bmj.306.6886.1173

Prevalence of cervical pathogens in women with and without inflammatory changes on smear testing.

W L Parsons 1, M Godwin 1, C Robbins 1, R Butler 1
PMCID: PMC1677692  PMID: 8499824

Abstract

OBJECTIVE--To assess correlation between nonspecific cervicitis, inflammation, or exudate on cervical smears tests and confirmed presence of known cervical pathogens. DESIGN--Investigation of women attending a family practice clinic for smear test by microbiological screening for Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Trichomonas vaginalis, Candida species, group B streptococcus, Gardnerella vaginalis, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. SETTING--Family practice teaching clinic in a university hospital. PATIENTS--411 women presenting for a smear test. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Prevalence of genital infections associated with presence or absence of inflammatory changes on cervical smear. RESULTS--Of the 132 women with inflammatory changes on cervical smear, 64 (48%) had positive cultures. Of the 248 without inflammatory changes, 117 (47%) had positive cultures. Subgroup analysis on individual organisms also showed no significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION--Reports of inflammatory changes on cervical smear testing are a poor indicator of infection.

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Selected References

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