Prevalence of Cytolytic Vaginosis in Symptomatic Bulgarian Women - Need for Microbiological Study

Cytolytic vaginosis (CV) is a condition where the vagina is overrun with lactobacillus. It occurs when the delicate balance of the vagina normal flora is interrupted. CV is not a frequent condition but can lead to gynecology complications. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of CV in symptomatic Bulgarian women and to compare it with the frequency of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and bacterial vaginosis (BV). Vaginal samples of 468 women were collected. Gram-stain smears were prepared. Vaginal pH was determined. Cultures on Sabouraud dextrose agar with Gentamycin and Chromagar candida were performed. Multiplex RT-PCR for detection of Candida was done. Based on clinical symptoms and microbiological study, CV was detected in 24 (5.1%) samples. In the remaining 236, 128 (27.4%) showed VVC and 108 (23.1%) BV. In our view clinically CV is commonly misdiagnosed as candidiasis, so special attention has to be paid when a vaginal smear is examined. Wrong diagnosis could be reason for inadequate treatment and increase in patient's suffering. Further investigations regarding the pathogenicity of the disorder are warranted