Prevalence of nonspecific vaginitis and other cervicovaginal infections during the third trimester of pregnancy.

Nonspecific vaginitis (NSV) is a clinical syndrome characterized by a decreased concentration of normal acidophilic Döderlein flora in the vagina and increased concentration of nonacidophilic microorganisms, such as Gardnerella vaginalis, anaerobic bacteria, and mycoplasmas. Since several NSV-associated organisms are associated with complications of pregnancy, we studied the prevalence of NSV among 104 consecutive women during the third trimester of pregnancy. Overall, 14 women (14%) had NSV by clinical and/or biochemical criteria, two women had Chlamydia trachomatis isolated from the cervix, and 24 women (23%) had yeast isolated from the vagina. None had Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Trichomonas vaginalis isolated. There was a correlation between an abnormal succinate to lactate ratio (on gas-liquid chromatography) and cytologic atypia detected by cervicovaginal Papanicolaou smears. More extensive studies are needed to correlate NSV with prematurity.