Prevalence of bacterial vaginosis and correlation of clinical to Gram stain diagnostic criteria in low risk pregnant women

The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of bacterial vaginosis, and the correlation of clinical Amsel criteria with Gram Nugent criteria fo r the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis in a low risk population of pregnant women. Pregnant women under 28 weeks of gestation who were followed in the low risk clinics at two centers were evaluated for the presence of bacteri al vaginosis using the Amsel clinical criteria, and underwent vaginal sampl es for Gram staining. Gram smears were examined for the diagnosis of bacter ial vaginosis on the basis of Nugent's criteria. A total of 492 women were included in the study. Bacterial vaginosis was diagnosed in 1.6% (8/492) wo men on the basis of clinical criteria, and in 4.5% (22/492) according to Gr am stain. The sensitivity and specificity of Amsel criteria compared with G ram stain were 35% and 99%, respectively. In accordance with other recent r eports, the prevalence of bacterial vaginosis appears to be much lower in c ertain areas than figures previously suggested. In these populations, the c orrelation of composite clinical criteria defined in groups with high preva lence of bacterial vaginosis appears to be also poor.