F E A Keane1, R Maw, C Pritchard, C A Ison. 1. Department of Genitourinary Medicine, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Treliske, Truro TR1 3LJ, UK. keanefr@rcht.cornwall.nhs.uk
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the methods used by genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics in the United Kingdom for the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis (BV). METHODS: A questionnaire survey of UK GUM clinics was conducted. RESULTS: 148/221 (67%) clinics returned a questionnaire. 96/148 (64.9%) clinics reported using Amsel's criteria to diagnose BV but only 29 (30.5%) of these used all four of the composite criteria. 139/148 (93.9%) clinics used the appearance of a Gram stained vaginal smear as an aid in BV diagnosis, although a variety of scoring methods was employed. In the majority of clinics, 92/148 (62.2%), one staff discipline provided the microscopy service, in 50 (33.8%) clinics two staff disciplines provided microscopy services. The bulk of microscopy services within UK GUM clinics is provided by nurses. CONCLUSIONS: Most UK GUM clinics utilise the appearance of a Gram stained vaginal smear for the diagnosis of BV although there is little consensus at present about the type of scoring method employed. Adaptation of a uniform scoring method would have enormous benefits, including consistency and reproducibility of results and the development of quality assurance schemes for BV diagnosis on a national basis. There are important issues to be addressed regarding the initial training and ongoing support for nurses providing microscopy services within UK GUM clinics.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the methods used by genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics in the United Kingdom for the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis (BV). METHODS: A questionnaire survey of UK GUM clinics was conducted. RESULTS: 148/221 (67%) clinics returned a questionnaire. 96/148 (64.9%) clinics reported using Amsel's criteria to diagnose BV but only 29 (30.5%) of these used all four of the composite criteria. 139/148 (93.9%) clinics used the appearance of a Gram stained vaginal smear as an aid in BV diagnosis, although a variety of scoring methods was employed. In the majority of clinics, 92/148 (62.2%), one staff discipline provided the microscopy service, in 50 (33.8%) clinics two staff disciplines provided microscopy services. The bulk of microscopy services within UK GUM clinics is provided by nurses. CONCLUSIONS: Most UK GUM clinics utilise the appearance of a Gram stained vaginal smear for the diagnosis of BV although there is little consensus at present about the type of scoring method employed. Adaptation of a uniform scoring method would have enormous benefits, including consistency and reproducibility of results and the development of quality assurance schemes for BV diagnosis on a national basis. There are important issues to be addressed regarding the initial training and ongoing support for nurses providing microscopy services within UK GUM clinics.
Authors: U Forsum; T Jakobsson; P G Larsson; H Schmidt; A Beverly; A Bjørnerem; B Carlsson; P Csango; G Donders; P Hay; C Ison; F Keane; H McDonald; H Moi; J-J Platz-Christensen; J Schwebke Journal: APMIS Date: 2002-11 Impact factor: 3.205
Authors: Vijaya K Hogan; Jennifer F Culhane; Jane Hitti; Virginia A Rauh; Kelly F McCollum; Kathy J Agnew Journal: Matern Child Health J Date: 2007-09-15