What causes Lactobacillus overgrowth?
Frequently, a woman may present with chronic vaginal discharge that has been treated with a variety of antifungals and antibiotics. These treatments can provoke a change in the vaginal pH leading to an overgrowth of lactobacilli. Other triggers may include sensitivity to soaps, wipes, pads, lubricants, etc.
What are normal findings on wet mount?
Normal: No yeast, bacteria, trichomoniasis, or clue cells are found on the slide. White blood cells are not present or very low in number.
Is bacteria normal on wet prep?
Wet prep reveals normal epithelial cells. There may be a small increase in the number of WBCs. The bacteria are the normal lactobacilli. Wet prep may reveal yeast, as budding forms or pseudohyphae.
What happens if you have too much Lactobacillus?
Cytolytic vaginosis has been diagnosed when there is an overgrowth of the lactobacilli. It has been suggested that they can irritate the cells that make up the vaginal lining, causing them to break up. The damaged or fragmented cells are then shed with the normal vaginal secretions.
What are the symptoms of Lactobacillus?
Certain types of diarrhea. When taken with antibiotics, a combination of acidophilus and other specific forms of lactobacillus might reduce diarrhea, bloating and cramps caused by a bacterium that can cause symptoms ranging from diarrhea to life-threatening inflammation of the colon (C. difficile infection).
What does WBC mean in a wet prep?
High numbers of white blood cells often mean a vaginal infection. Yeast cells found on the wet mount mean a vaginal yeast infection is present. Trichomonads on the wet mount mean trichomoniasis is present. Clue cells means bacterial vaginosis is present.
Can wet mount detect chlamydia?
Wet mounts are not used to diagnose most common STIs such as chlamydia and gonorrhea. However, these vaginal smears can give your healthcare provider important insights about your reproductive health.
What does WBC on a wet prep mean?
What can a wet prep detect?
A vaginal wet mount, also called a wet prep or vaginal smear, is a test done to find the cause of vaginitis, an inflammation of the vagina. Your doctor will usually order the test if you’re having symptoms like itching, a discharge, or pain.
What is a Lactobacillus infection?
Lactobacillus organisms are rarely associated with pathology in immunocompetent people, but in the presence of risk factors and underlying conditions, they can cause infections such as endocarditis, bacteremia, neonatal meningitis, dental caries, and intra-abdominal abscesses including liver abscess, pancreatic …
How do you swab for wet prep?
Your nurse or doctor will use a thin cotton swab to collect cells from the vaginal wall. They’ll smear the cells on a small microscope slide and mix them with a saline solution. They’ll view the slide under a microscope. Your doctor will know what type of vaginitis you have, based on what they see on the slide.