A 32-year-old woman with gravida 1 para 1 arrives at the clinic for vaginal discharge. The patient has no chronic medical issues and does not use any drugs on a regular basis. Her last menstruation was three weeks ago. The patient has recently started having sexual relations with a new partner and is using an intrauterine device for contraception. The figure below depicts the cytology of the discharge: Which of the following best describes the predominant organism causing this patient's condition?

Question

A 32-year-old woman with gravida 1 para 1 arrives at the clinic for vaginal discharge. The patient has no chronic medical issues and does not use any drugs on a regular basis. Her last menstruation was three weeks ago. The patient has recently started having sexual relations with a new partner and is using an intrauterine device for contraception. The figure below depicts the cytology of the discharge:  Which of the following best describes the predominant organism causing this patient's condition?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Bacterial vaginosis is characterized by a grayish-white, malodorous vaginal discharge caused by an overgrowth of Gardnerella vaginalis, a gram-variable, facultative anaerobic rod. Wet mount microscopy or cytology reveal clue cells (squamous epithelial cells coated in bacterial organisms).

A 32-Year-Old Woman with Gravida 1 Para 1 Arrives at the Clinic