Gardnerella vaginalis

Although G. vaginalis is a major species present in bacterial vaginosis, it can also be isolated from women without any signs or symptoms of infection.

The OSOM BV Blue Assay is a chromogenic point-of-care test which can measure sialidase levels in vaginal fluids.

[13] FemExam, besides detecting vaginal fluid pH and trimethylamine presence, is able to measure proline iminopeptidase activity of G.

[13] Bacterial vaginosis is commonly treated with topical or oral antibiotics such as metronidazole or clindamycin, which work by targeting G. vaginalis and possibly other anaerobic bacteria.

In the amine whiff test, 10% KOH is added to the discharge; a positive result is indicated if a fishy smell is produced.

This and other tests can be used to distinguish between vaginal symptoms related to G. vaginalis and those caused by other organisms, such as Trichomonas and Candida albicans, which are similar and may require different treatment.

[19] Gardnerella vaginalis was described in 1953 by Sidney Leopold as a nonmotile, nonencapsulated, pleomorphic gram-negative rod from the vaginas of women who showed symptoms of cervicitis.

Gram stain of cells from the vagina (the same magnification) with normal bacterial flora (top) and the bacteria that cause vaginosis (bottom).