Comparison of Nugent's and Amsel's Criteria in the Diagnosis of Bacterial Vaginosis

Objectives: (1) To confirm clinically suspected cases of Bacterial vaginosis (BV) by Amsel's and Nugent's criteria. (2) To compare Amsel's and Nugent's criteria in the diagnosis of Bacterial vaginosis. Methods: The study group comprised of 100 patients attending the Gynaecology OPD, King George Hospital, Visakhapatnam, AP, India, with h/o watery foul smelling vaginal discharge who were not on oral/vaginal antibiotics, and were in the age group of 15-45 years. Vaginal discharge was collected from posterior fornix of vagina using vaginal swab. Results: Out of 100 patients, vaginal pH > 5 in 87 patients, 72 were positive for Whiff test and 84 were positive for clue cells. Percentage of cases positive by Amsel's criteria was 84% and by Nugent's criteria was 92%. Conclusions: (1) Positivity by Nugent's criteria was high when compared to Amsel's. Hence some cases of BV may not be diagnosed if Amsel's criteria alone is used. (2) BV as a risk factor for premature labour, premature rupture of membranes (PROM), low birth weight (LBW), chorioamnionitis and post partum endometritis is well known. So women with foul smelling, watery discharge should be investigated for BV.