Trends in Inflammatory Status of the Vaginal Flora as Established in the Dutch National Screening Program for Cervical Cancer Over the Last Decade

• Published in: Acta cytologica Vol. 54; no. 1; pp. 43 - 49
• Main Authors: Klomp, Johanna M., Boon, Mathilde E., Dorman, Manja Z., van Haaften, Maarten, Heintz, A. Peter M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland Karger 01-01-2010
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Female genital diseases; Gynecologic Cytopathology; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Inflammation - microbiology; Inflammation - parasitology; Inflammation - pathology; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Mass Screening; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Tumors; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - microbiology; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - parasitology; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - pathology; Vagina - microbiology; Vagina - parasitology; Vagina - pathology; Vaginal Smears; Netherlands; Europe; Program; cervical neoplasms; Trend; Vagina; Microflora; Inflammation; Malignant tumor; Medical screening; Female genital diseases; Anatomic pathology; Papanicolaou smear; Smear; Uterine cervix diseases; Cervical cancer; Cancer
• ISSN: 0001-5547; 1938-2650
• DOI: 10.1159/000324965

To describe recent trends in the prevalence of cytologic patterns of the vaginal flora (koilocytosis, Trichomonas, dys-bacteriosis, Candida, Gardnerella, Actinomyces, Chlamydia trachomatis) over the last decade.
From 1996 to 2005 > 500,000 cervical smears were screened in the context of the Dutch national screening program on a 5-year basis. Data from the first screening period were compared with those of the second screening period.
Prevalences differed from 34.8 for dysbacteriosis to 0.2 for C trachomatis. Bacterial imbalance (dysbacteriosis, unequivocal Gardnerella and Trichomonas) showed a decline in all age groups. Cases of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related koilocytosis have dramatically increased among young women (30 and 35 years).
Bacterial imbalance of the vaginal flora has significantly decreased during the past decade in all age cohorts. Campaigns on consciousness of vaginal hygiene might have contributed to this amazing effect. We ought to be concerned about the increase in HPV-related koilocytosis.