What does a saline wet mount for bacterial vaginosis typically show?

What does a saline wet mount for bacterial vaginosis typically show?

• A. Increased numbers of coccobacilli
• B. Motile trichomonads
• C. Dysmorphic RBCs
• D. Positive Anti-streptolysin O titer

Answer: (A)

A saline wet mount for bacterial vaginosis typically shows increased numbers of coccobacilli due to the displacement of the normal vaginal flora. In bacterial vaginosis, there is an overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria, leading to a characteristic change in the microbial composition of the vaginal environment. The presence of these coccobacilli, which are small, oval-shaped bacteria, is often identified when examining the wet mount under a microscope. This finding is part of a broader diagnostic criterion used to identify bacterial vaginosis, where the balance of healthy bacterial flora is disrupted, resulting in a predominance of these atypical bacteria. The other findings listed in the choices are associated with different conditions; for instance, motile trichomonads are indicative of trichomoniasis rather than bacterial vaginosis, and dysmorphic RBCs are often associated with hemolysis or other hematological issues. A positive Anti-streptolysin O titer is relevant for streptococcal infections and would not be related to a pathogenic process in bacterial vaginosis.

A saline wet mount for bacterial vaginosis typically shows increased numbers of coccobacilli due to the displacement of the normal vaginal flora. In bacterial vaginosis, there is an overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria, leading to a characteristic change in the microbial composition of the vaginal environment. The presence of these coccobacilli, which are small, oval-shaped bacteria, is often identified when examining the wet mount under a microscope.

This finding is part of a broader diagnostic criterion used to identify bacterial vaginosis, where the balance of healthy bacterial flora is disrupted, resulting in a predominance of these atypical bacteria. The other findings listed in the choices are associated with different conditions; for instance, motile trichomonads are indicative of trichomoniasis rather than bacterial vaginosis, and dysmorphic RBCs are often associated with hemolysis or other hematological issues. A positive Anti-streptolysin O titer is relevant for streptococcal infections and would not be related to a pathogenic process in bacterial vaginosis.