Natural Science Forum / Biology / Microbiology / May 2004

Dear Serge,

I think that G.vaginalis is part of normal vaginal flora, albeit in
very small numbers. Though  a Nugent score (based on reduced
number/absence of Lactobacilli) of about 7 - 10 indicates the presence
of small gram negative rods including Gardenerella, that doesn't
contribute much to the dignosis of bacterial vaginosis.  Attempts to
isolate G. vaginalis, genital mycoplasmas, or anaerobic bacteria do
not aid in the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis because these
organisms occur (albeit in much lower concentrations) in the vaginal
flora of many women without the syndrome.