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A genital culture allows the organisms present in the vagina to grow to
levels enabling identification.
The vagina is not sterile, but contains a mixture of aerobic, anaerobic,
coliform, and skin bacteria, as well as a few fungi. Normally, these are in
balance with no particular predominant organism.
Chlamydia and gonorrhea are usually not included in a genital culture as
both require special media to detect.
Significant growth of any one organism usually indicates a clinical or
subclinical infection. Common types of overgrowth include:
- Yeast (candida albicans)
- Streptococcus
- Gardnerella
- E. Coli
- Proteus
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Normal Values*
| Genital Culture |
Normal Vaginal Flora |
*These are general values taken from a variety of
sources. The actual normal values may vary from lab to lab and from one
type of testing protocol to another.
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The information contained here is an
abbreviated summary. For more detailed and complete information, consult the
manufacturer's product information sheets or standard textbooks
Source:
Operational Medicine 2001, Health
Care in Military Settings, NAVMED P-5139, May 1, 2001, Bureau
of Medicine and Surgery, Department of the Navy, 2300 E Street NW, Washington,
D.C., 20372-5300
Military Obstetrics & Gynecology
© 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
Medical Education Division,
Brookside Associates, Ltd.
All rights reserved
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