Ch 16 Vaginal Secretions

KOH preparation

a preparation technique used to enhance the viewing of fungal elements. Secretions obtained using a sterile swab are suspended in saline. A drop of this suspension is placed on a microscope slide, followed by a drop of 10% KOH. The slide is warmed and viewed microscopically. KOH destroys most formed elements with the exception of bacteria and fungal elements.

bactericidal

capable of killing bacteria

vaginitis

inflammation of the vagina

vulvovaginitis

inflammation of the vulva and vagina or of the vuvovaginal glands (ie, Bartholin's glands)

bacterial vaginosis

noninvasive inflammation of the vagina and upper genital tract most often caused by Gardnerella vaginalis in association with anaerobes such as Mobiluncus species

dyspareunia

pain in the vulva, vagina, or pelvis during or after intercourse. The cause may be disease-related, mechanical, or psychologic

dysuria

pain or difficulty experienced with urination. It is most often associated with infections of the urinary tract (eg, urethritis, cystitis) Such "internal" " " contrasts with "external" " ", which is pain experienced during urination because of the passage of urine over inflamed tissues (eg. vulva or perineum)

clue cells

squamous epithelial cells with large numbers of bacteria adhering to them. These cells appear soft and finely granular with indistinct or "shaggy" cell borders. to be considered a " ", the bacteria do not need to cover the entire cell, but the bacterial organisms must extend beyond the cytoplasmic borders of the cell. " " are characteristic of bacterial vaginosis, a synergistic infection involving Gardnerella vaginalis and anaerobic bacteria.

vaginal fornix

the arched recesses of the vaginal mucosa that surround the cervix. Of the four recesses, the posterior fornix is deeper than that of the anterior and lateral (right and left) fornices

vaginal pool

the mucus and cells present in the posterior fornix of the vagina when a female is in a supine position.