Review Article | volume 2 (2024) | Published in 2024-02-23
An Investigation into the Association Between Inflammatory Cervical Cytology and Infectious Agents in Baghdad Governorate, Iraq
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Abstract
Background: Cervical inflammation is a frequent finding in cytological smears used for screening pre-malignant lesions. Understanding the microbial causes of inflammation is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was conducted over four months at Baghdad Hospital. Cervical smears and endocervical swabs were collected from women attending gynecology, postnatal, and general outpatient clinics to assess inflammatory changes and identify infectious pathogens. Results: Among 421 women aged 17–80 years (95% premenopausal), 213 (50.6%) smears showed inflammation. Microbial infections were confirmed in 127 patients (30%) through culture and Chlamydia antigen testing. Notably, 61% of infections occurred in women with inflammatory smears, while 39% were in those with non-inflammatory smears. Chlamydia and Candida species were the predominant pathogens, accounting for 68.5% of infections. Dysplasia was observed in 39 smears (8.7%), mostly low-grade (35 cases). Conclusion: Cervical inflammation does not reliably predict infection, as a substantial proportion of infections occur in the absence of inflammatory smears. This complicates clinical management, highlighting
Keywords: Cervical inflammation, Cervical smear, Cervical infection, Chlamydia; Candida.
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References
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Article history_en
Received : Jan 20, 2024
Revised : Jan 23, 2024
Accepted : Feb 17, 2024
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Authors Affiliations_en
FADI HUSSIEN ALKHATIB
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Ethics declarations_en
Acknowledgment None Author Contribution All authors contributed equally to the main contributor to this paper. All authors read and approved the final paper. Conflicts of Interest “The authors declare no conflict of interest.” Funding “This research received no external funding”
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