The Journal of Medical Microbiology, Vol 16, Issue 2 175-182, Copyright © 1983 by Society for General Microbiology
Characteristics of motile curved rods in vaginal secretions
M. S. Sprott, H. R. Ingham, R. S. Pattman, R. L. Eisenstadt, G. R. Short, H. K. Narang, P. R. Sisson and J. B. Selkon
Motile curved rods seen in vaginal secretions have been isolated on
Columbia agar supplemented with 5% human blood and vitamin K. Growth
occurred anaerobically and in 5% oxygen but not in more aerobic conditions.
There were two distinct groups of these organisms, distinguishable by
morphology, biochemical activity and susceptibility to metronidazole. All
isolates were sensitive to a wide range of antimicrobial agents, with the
exception of nalidixic acid and polymyxin, but one group was resistant to
metronidazole. There was little difference between the results of tests of
susceptibility to aminoglycosides or to metronidazole performed in
anaerobic and microaerophilic conditions. Motile curved rods were isolated
from 18 of 80 patients with a clinical diagnosis of non-specific vaginitis,
but from only two of 39 without the disease.
