Bacterial vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis
A vaginal condition characterized by an abnormal vaginal discharge due to an overgrowth of normal bacteria in the vagina. Women with bacterial vaginosis have fewer of the usual vaginal bacteria, called lactobacilli. Symptoms are the vaginal discharge and sometimes a fishy odor. A sign under the microscope is an unusual vaginal cell called a clue cell. Treatment options for bacterial vaginosis include oral antibiotics and vaginal gels.

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bacterial vag·i·no·sis -.vaj-ə-'nō-səs n vaginitis that is marked by a grayish vaginal discharge usu. of foul odor and that is associated with the presence of a bacterium esp. of the genus Gardnerella (G. vaginalis syn. Haemophilus vaginalis) abbr. BV called also nonspecific vaginitis

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a type of vaginitis characterized by high concentrations of anaerobic bacteria in the vaginal flora, with greatly lowered concentrations of lactobacilli and by increased malodorous (fishy) thin gray vaginal discharge that cannot be attributed to other cause; it is frequently associated with positive cultures for Gardnerella vaginalis or mobiluncus.

Minute basophilic coccobacilli cover the epithelial cells and are present throughout the proteinaceous background in bacterial vaginosis.


Medical dictionary. 2011.

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Bacterial vaginosis — Classification and external resources Micrograph of bacterial vaginosis squamous cells of the cervix covered with rod shaped bacteria, Gardnerella vaginalis (arrows). ICD 10 …   Wikipedia

  • bacterial vaginosis — (bak te re ěl vaj ī no sis) Bacterial vaginosis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by Gardnerella vaginalis, Mobiluncus spp., Mycoplasma hominis, and various anaerobic bacteria. Although a mild disease it is a risk factor for obstetric… …   Dictionary of microbiology

  • bacterial vaginosis — noun Date: 1985 vaginitis that is marked by a grayish vaginal discharge usually of foul odor and that is associated with the presence of excessive amounts of some bacteria (especially Gardnerella vaginalis) called also nonspecific vaginitis …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • bacterial vaginosis — a condition caused by overgrowth of certain species of the bacteria that are normally present in the vagina (e.g. Bacteroides, Gardnerella vaginalis). One of the most common vaginal infections, it is marked by a greyish watery vaginal discharge… …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • bacterial vaginosis — …   Useful english dictionary

  • Vaginosis bacteriana — Micrografía de vaginosis bacterial células escamosas del cérvix cubiertas con la bacteria Gardnerella vaginalis (flechas). Clasificación y recursos externos …   Wikipedia Español

  • vaginosis — Disease of the vagina. bacterial v. infection of the human vagina that may be caused by anaerobic bacteria, especially by Mobiluncus species or by Gardnerella vaginalis. Characterized by excessive, sometimes malodorous, discharge. SYN:… …   Medical dictionary

  • vaginosis — noun (plural vaginoses) Etymology: New Latin Date: 1984 a disease or infection of the vagina; specifically bacterial vaginosis …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • vaginosis — n.; see bacterial vaginosis …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • bacterialvaginosis — bacterial vaginosis n. Vaginal infection resulting from a change in the balance of naturally occurring bacteria, allowing disease causing bacteria, especially Gardnerella vaginalis, to predominate. * * * …   Universalium

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