Prevalence of Candida albicans, Gardnerella vaginalis, and Trichomonas vaginalis in women presenting with symptoms of vaginitis using molecular detection methods

Background:

Bacterial vaginitis (BV) is the most frequently occurring vaginal infection in women and one of the leading causes of preterm birth. Because BV may be caused by a combination of multiple bacteria, diagnosis and treatment are not simple. A nucleic acid hybridization-based test—the BD Affirm™ VPIII Microbial Identification Test – provides enhanced detection sensitivity and specificity, and may help reduce the risk of preterm births.

Methods:

A total of 117 clinical specimens submitted for vaginal DNA screening were tested. The BD Affirm™, which uses two single-stranded nucleic probes for each organism and detects and identifies Candida species, Gardnerella vaginalis, and Trichomonas vaginalis in vaginal fluid, was performed according to manufacturer's instructions.

Results:

Of the 117 specimens tested, 16 (13.68%) tested positive for Candida albicans, 8 (6.84% tested positive for Trichomonas vaginalis, 74 (63.25%) tested positive for Gardnerella vaginalis with 15 (12.82%) positive for 2 or more and 1 (0.01%) positive for all three. Significant differences in prevalence were found across race/ethnic groups: African-American 69 (62.73%), Caucasian 38 (34.55%), Hispanic 2 (1.82%) and Asian 1 (0.91%). Positive rates based on age were: 14-24 (60.68%), 25-34 (21.34%), 35-44 (13.68%), 45 and above (4.30%).

Conclusion:

Approximately 84% of patient samples tested positive for at least one agent of vaginitis. BV afflicts African-American females at a higher incidence compared to other races. Further research is needed to examine the reasons for the racial/ethnic disparities.