Use of wet mount to predict Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhea cervicitis in primary care.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cervicitis is associated with salpingitis, infertility, and complications of pregnancy. Universal screening has been recommended for high-prevalence populations but may not be appropriate in the family practice setting. Leukocytes on an endocervical gram stain have been associated with infectious cervicitis due to Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhea. This study sought to determine whether the finding of leukocytes in a vaginal wet mount could be used to screen for infectious cervicitis in an urban family practice. METHODS: A consecutive sample of 357 women had cultures for C trachomatis and N gonorrhea and a standardized wet mount. RESULTS: All women with infectious cervicitis were under age 35. Thirty-six percent of infected women had more leukocytes than epithelial cells in the wet mount, compared with 23% of women without these organisms. CONCLUSIONS: Wet mount findings did not reliably predict infectious cervicitis. Study of a larger population is needed to confirm these findings.