Unusual Fungal Species in Routine Cervicovaginal Papanicolaou Smears
Background: Conventional cervicovaginal Papanicolaou (Pap) stained smears are a common investigation in gynaecological practice for detecting cancerous and precancerous cervicovaginal lesions, as well as infections and inflammatory processes. Although Candidiasis is the most common fungal infection...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IMR Press
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics & Gynecology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.imrpress.com/journal/CEOG/50/8/10.31083/j.ceog5008157 |
| _version_ | 1797733144264179712 |
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| author | Alexandra Corina Faur Laura Andreea Ghenciu Camelia Vidiţa Gurban Daniela Cornelia Lazăr |
| author_facet | Alexandra Corina Faur Laura Andreea Ghenciu Camelia Vidiţa Gurban Daniela Cornelia Lazăr |
| author_sort | Alexandra Corina Faur |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Conventional cervicovaginal Papanicolaou (Pap) stained smears are a common investigation in gynaecological practice for detecting cancerous and precancerous cervicovaginal lesions, as well as infections and inflammatory processes. Although Candidiasis is the most common fungal infection detected on Pap smears, cytopathologists sometimes also have to deal with the challenge of fungal contaminants. The aim of this study is to present and discuss the findings of two rare fungal organisms in the context of previous literature reports. Methods: Over a period of one year, 4496 smears were submitted to the cytopathology laboratory for analysis. These were sampled from women aged 16–72 years. Slides were processed using the conventional Papanicolaou stain (Pap stain) method. The current available literature was reviewed using relevant key words. Results: Of the 4496 smears examined, the most frequently detected fungal species was Candida species spp. (523 cases), followed by Gardnerella Vaginalis (450 cases) and Trichomonas Vaginalis (50 cases). Also identified were 20 cases with Actinomyces spp. and 18 cases with unusual contaminants belonging to Penicillium and Alternaria spp. A literature search found that five previous articles reported cervical cytology cases with Penicillium and Alternaria spp. Conclusions: Papanicolaou smears are useful for the detection of vaginal microorganisms. Usual pathogenic flora need to be distinguished from contaminants such as Penicillium and Alternaria spp., as observed in this and previous studies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T12:23:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9ead46cbd304444f8c02f8d5ce7c418e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0390-6663 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T12:23:57Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | IMR Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics & Gynecology |
| spelling | doaj.art-9ead46cbd304444f8c02f8d5ce7c418e2023-08-30T05:21:34ZengIMR PressClinical and Experimental Obstetrics & Gynecology0390-66632023-08-0150815710.31083/j.ceog5008157S0390-6663(23)02119-XUnusual Fungal Species in Routine Cervicovaginal Papanicolaou SmearsAlexandra Corina Faur0Laura Andreea Ghenciu1Camelia Vidiţa Gurban2Daniela Cornelia Lazăr3Department I, Discipline of Anatomy and Embryology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaDepartment III, Discipline of Pathophysiology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaDepartment IV Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Discipline of Biochemistry, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaDepartment V Internal Medicine I, Discipline of Internal Medicine IV, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaBackground: Conventional cervicovaginal Papanicolaou (Pap) stained smears are a common investigation in gynaecological practice for detecting cancerous and precancerous cervicovaginal lesions, as well as infections and inflammatory processes. Although Candidiasis is the most common fungal infection detected on Pap smears, cytopathologists sometimes also have to deal with the challenge of fungal contaminants. The aim of this study is to present and discuss the findings of two rare fungal organisms in the context of previous literature reports. Methods: Over a period of one year, 4496 smears were submitted to the cytopathology laboratory for analysis. These were sampled from women aged 16–72 years. Slides were processed using the conventional Papanicolaou stain (Pap stain) method. The current available literature was reviewed using relevant key words. Results: Of the 4496 smears examined, the most frequently detected fungal species was Candida species spp. (523 cases), followed by Gardnerella Vaginalis (450 cases) and Trichomonas Vaginalis (50 cases). Also identified were 20 cases with Actinomyces spp. and 18 cases with unusual contaminants belonging to Penicillium and Alternaria spp. A literature search found that five previous articles reported cervical cytology cases with Penicillium and Alternaria spp. Conclusions: Papanicolaou smears are useful for the detection of vaginal microorganisms. Usual pathogenic flora need to be distinguished from contaminants such as Penicillium and Alternaria spp., as observed in this and previous studies.https://www.imrpress.com/journal/CEOG/50/8/10.31083/j.ceog5008157cervicovaginal smearspenicilliumalternariacontaminants |
| spellingShingle | Alexandra Corina Faur Laura Andreea Ghenciu Camelia Vidiţa Gurban Daniela Cornelia Lazăr Unusual Fungal Species in Routine Cervicovaginal Papanicolaou Smears Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics & Gynecology cervicovaginal smears penicillium alternaria contaminants |
| title | Unusual Fungal Species in Routine Cervicovaginal Papanicolaou Smears |
| title_full | Unusual Fungal Species in Routine Cervicovaginal Papanicolaou Smears |
| title_fullStr | Unusual Fungal Species in Routine Cervicovaginal Papanicolaou Smears |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unusual Fungal Species in Routine Cervicovaginal Papanicolaou Smears |
| title_short | Unusual Fungal Species in Routine Cervicovaginal Papanicolaou Smears |
| title_sort | unusual fungal species in routine cervicovaginal papanicolaou smears |
| topic | cervicovaginal smears penicillium alternaria contaminants |
| url | https://www.imrpress.com/journal/CEOG/50/8/10.31083/j.ceog5008157 |
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