Microbiologia Medica (Jul 2025)

The occurrence and comparative analysis of bacterial vaginosis and its association with urinary tract infections among pregnant women in a tertiary care hospital of Western Uttar Pradesh

  • Khilika Sethi,
  • Naila Begum,
  • Aysha Aymen

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4081/mm.2025.12828
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 40, no. 1

Abstract

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Background: Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) is the most prevalent etiology of vaginal discharge in women of reproductive age. It is characterized by a shift in the vaginal microbiota, where Lactobacillus species are diminished and replaced by a diverse array of anaerobic bacteria. BV is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm labor and low birth weight, as well as an increased susceptibility to Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs). As such, it represents a significant public health concern. The diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis is typically established through the application of Amsel's criteria and the Nugent scoring system. The purpose of this research is to compare Amsel's criteria with Nugent’s scoring system in order to assess the diagnostic utility of the former and to see the association between UTI and BV. Materials and Methods: in a tertiary care hospital in North India, 200 pregnant females participated in a cross-sectional study. The result was classified based on both Nugent's and Amsel's criteria. Results: of the 200 women, 35 (17.5%) met Amsel's criteria for BV positivity, whereas 42 (21%) met Nugent's grading criteria. The values for Amsel's criteria were as follows: sensitivity (80%), specificity (91.5%), Positive Predictive Value (PPV) (66.7%), and Negative Predictive Value (NPV) (95.6%). 40.4% of patients had BV concomitant with UTI. There is a significant association between BV and UTI (p<0.05). Conclusions: in spite of its affordability and ease of use, Amsel's criteria are not always a valid tool to diagnose bacterial vaginosis. The gold standard for diagnosing BV is Nugent's criteria; however, it takes a lot of time and expertise. Amsel's criteria can be used to diagnose BV when lab equipment is unavailable, as in many underdeveloped nations. In our study, both the tests were able to diagnose BV, but the Nugent scoring system has higher sensitivity. A significant association was found between UTI and BV.

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