Diagnostic value of the papanicolaou smear in lower genital tract infections during pregnancy.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the diagnostic value of the Pap smear in lower genital tract infections during pregnancy.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

A total of 190 pregnant women were examined in the Lower Genital Tract and Colposcopy clinics of the Obstetrics Division at the University Hospital de Clínicas "José de San Martín" of University of Buenos Aires from April to August 1997. Samples were taken from the vaginal fornix for microbiologic study and from the exocervix for Pap smear. Both the sensitivity and specificity test of the Pap smear for diagnosing lower genital tract infections were calculated considering the microbiologic study as the reference standard.

RESULTS

The sensitivity of the Pap smear for Candida spp., bacterial vaginosis and Trichomonas vaginalis compared with microbiologic study was 50, 81, and 78, respectively. The specificity for the same study was 96%, 93%, and 100%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Pap smear for diagnosing lower genital tract infections is useful when positive results are found for these infections because of its high specificity.