Gardnerella vaginalis

Question 1

Disease

Answer 1

• bacterial vaginosis
• vaginal infection of sexually active women

Question 2

Important Properties

Answer 2

• small, facultative gram-variable (some organisms are purple while others pink in Gram-stained specimen) rod.
• Structurally gram-positive
  cell wall-> thin & older organisms lose purple color.

Question 3

Pathogenesis

Answer 3

• uncertain.
• not sexually transmitted infection.

Question 4

Clinical Findings

Answer 4

• malodorous, white or gray-colored vaginal discharge with fishy odor.
• Inflammatory changes
  absent; vaginosis than vaginitis.
• Mild itching
• Women higher incidence of preterm deliveries &
  morbidity & mortality in their newborn children.

Question 5

Laboratory Diagnosis

Answer 5

• Clue cells (vaginal epithelial cells covered with
  bacteria) in vaginal discharge
• whiff test: treating vaginal
  discharge with 10% KOH & smelling a pungent fishy
  odor-> positive.
• Trichomoniasis, also positive whiff test, ruled out first.
• pH of greater than 4.5 of vaginal discharge

Question 6

Treatment & Prevention

Answer 6

• metronidazole.
• Treatment of sexual
  partners not needed.
• no vaccine.