DNA analysis was more accurate than clinical diagnosis, but managing patients with vaginitis remains difficult.
Vaginitis is a common gynecologic complaint, yet its management is impeded by diagnostic imprecision. Investigators assessed whether standard clinical approaches were as accurate as DNA analysis for diagnosing bacterial vaginosis (BV), candidiasis vaginitis, and trichomoniasis in 535 active-duty military women (mean age, 26) who presented with symptoms of vaginitis. All patients underwent clinical examinations, determination of vaginal pH, and vaginal-fluid amine testing and microscopy. Vaginal fluid was also analyzed using DNA probe standard testing for Gardnerella vaginalis, Trichomonas vaginalis, and candida species.
Compared with DNA analysis, clinical diagnosis of BV had a sensitivity of 80.8% and a specificity of 70.0%. Clinical diagno…