Prevalence of G. Vaginalis Among Female Patients Attending the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.

Abstract

One thousand, seven hundred and seventy-one (1771) female patients with offensive vaginal discharge, 49 of whom were between the ages of 5 months and 15 years as against 1722 who were above the age of 15 years were examined for infection with Gardnerella vaginalis. Trichomonas vaginalis, Candida albicans, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Lactobacillus species. Of the 1722 women above 15 years of age, 1016 were pregnant whilst 706 were not. Forty-two (42%) per cent of the above 15 years age-group as against 36.7% of the under 16 years age-group were infected with G. vaginalis alone. Amongst the under 16 years age-group G. vaginalis was never detected in association with T. vaginalis or with C Albicans, On the other hand, however, amongst the above 15 years age-group, 0, vaginalis could be identified co-existing with T. vaginalis, C. albicans and N. gonorrhoeae, From the results G. vaginalis-associated vaginosis may be considered as anon-sexually transmitted disease. The reason for this consideration is discussed and advantage is also taken of other published works on "Bacterial vaginosis" to attempt to unravel the possible pathogen-etic processes involved in the genesis of Bacterial vaginosis. A simple, rapid and reliable diagnostic method for G: vaginalis has been suggested.