Table 4 Associations between fastidious bacteria identified by PCR, cultured bacteria and bacterial vaginosis determined by Gram stain and Amsel’s criteria
Bacterial vaginosis variablePositive %Negative %Crude OR (95% CI)Adjusted OR* (95% CI)
L sanguinegens/amnionii
    Discharge41.938.91.1 (0.4 to 3.7)0.8 (0.2 to 2.9)
    Vaginal ph >4.595.768.810.0 (1.0 to 96.4)14.5 (1.2 to 173.0)
    Whiff test51.636.81.8 (0.6 to 5.9)1.8 (0.5 to 6.6)
    Clue cells >20%63.331.63.7 (1.1 to 12.7)5.7 (1.3 to 25.0)
    BV: Amsel’s criteria60.940.02.3 (0.6 to 8.8)2.9 (0.5 to 15.7)
    BV: Nugent’s criteria75.025.09.0 (2.2 to 37.2)17.7 (2.8 to 113.0)
UU-2
    Discharge62.530.33.8 (1.1 to 13.5)3.4 (0.93 to 12.41)
    Vaginal ph >4.5100.076.0
    Whiff test50.044.11.3 (0.4 to 4.2)1.3 (0.4 to 4.7)
    Clue cells >20%43.854.60.7 (0.2 to 2.2)0.7 (0.2 to 2.4)
    BV: Amsel’s criteria57.150.01.3 (0.4 to 5.1)1.5 (0.3 to 6.8)
    BV: Nugent’s criteria64.353.31.6 (0.4 to 5.8)1.7 (0.4 to 6.9)
UP
    Discharge35.740.60.8 (0.2 to 3.0)0.8 (0.2 to 2.9)
    Vaginal ph >4.581.888.50.6 (0.1 to 4.)0.4 (0.04 to 3.8)
    Whiff test33.350.00.5 (0.1 to 1.8)0.5 (0.1 to 1.8)
    Clue cells >20%46.754.80.7 (0.2 to 2.5)0.7 (0.2 to 2.5)
    BV: Amsel’s criteria40.057.70.5 (0.1 to 2.2)0.4 (0.1 to 2.3)
    BV: Nugent’s criteria61.555.21.3 (0.3 to 4.9)1.4 (0.4 to 5.3)
A vaginae
    Discharge44.436.41.4 (0.4 to 4.4)1.2 (0.35 to 3.93)
    Vaginal ph >4.5100.064.7
    Whiff test59.330.43.3 (1.0 to 10.8)3.3 (1.0 to 11.3)
    Clue cells >20%66.731.84.3 (1.3 to 14.3)4.5 (1.3 to 16.0)
    BV: Amsel’s criteria63.637.52.9 (0.8 to 11.1)2.6 (0.6 to 11.4)
    BV: Nugent’s criteria83.325.015.0 (3.4 to 65.6)19.2 (3.7 to 98.7)
BVAB1
    Discharge50.037.11.7 (0.5 to 5.9)1.7 (0.5 to 6.0)
    Vaginal ph >4.5100.076.9
    Whiff test78.633.37.3 (1.7 to 31.3)8.7 (1.9 to 40.4)
    Clue cells >20%85.737.110.2 (2.0 to 52.7)12.6 (2.2 to 71.4)
    BV: Amsel’s criteria76.940.05.0 (1.1 to 22.8)5.7 (1.0 to 31.1)
    BV: Nugent’s criteria92.341.916.6 (1.9 to 144.2)21.1 (2.2 to 198.5)
M hominis
    Discharge66.735.03.7 (0.3 to 48.6)3.6 (0.3 to 50.1)
    Vaginal ph >4.5100.084.2
    Whiff test100.047.6
    Clue cells >20%100.057.1
    BV: Amsel’s criteria100.0100.0
    BV: Nugent’s criteria100.057.9
G vaginalis
    Discharge33.326.31.4 (0.3 to 7.8)1.2 (0.2 to 7.4)
    Vaginal ph >4.585.782.41.3 (0.1 to 15.0)0.6 (0.03 to 11.4)
    Whiff test55.635.02.3 (0.5 to 11.5)2.7 (0.5 to 15.8)
    Clue cells >20%77.840.05.3 (0.9 to 32.0)6.1 (0.9 to 43.3)
    BV: Amsel’s criteria71.431.25.5 (0.8 to 38.7)17.7 (1.3 to 248.1)
    BV: Nugent’s criteria88.943.810.3 (1.0 to 102.8)6.6 (0.6 to 69.6)
  • *Adjusted for age and race. BV, bacterial vaginosis; BVAB1, bacterial vaginosis-associated bacteria type 1; OR, odds ratio; UP, Ureaplasma parvum; UU-2, Ureaplasma urealyticum biovar 2.