[Cervico-vaginal infections. Study of a population in the Turin area].

Background. Aim of this study is to determine the prevalence, in the Turin area, of the pathogens chiefly involved in the genesis of the most common infections of the female genitalia. Methods. This is a retrospective study. During the period of time beginning from January 1, 1997 and ending December 31, 1999, we examined 10,249 women from 14 years to 54 years of age, who were seen at the out-patient diagnosis service of the Sant'Anna Hospital. The patients' cervical specimens were screened for common germs, Candida spp., Trichomonas vaginalis, Bact. Vaginosis, Chlamidia tracbomatis, Micoplasms, and Neisseria gonor-rheae. The prevalence of each micro-organism was found. The obtained data were cross-referenced with the risk factors in the clinical history of each patient. The Χ 2 test with a C.I. of 95% was used for the statistical evaluations. Results. It is shown by a detailed analysis of the data in our possession that an anamnesis oriented mainly for the evaluation of the various risk factors would be more effective than one oriented for the presence of a subjective symptomatology, since many of these infections are either weakly symptomatic or totally asymptomatic (especially in the case of C trachomatis), as has been many times underlined in the international literature. Conclusions. Greater attention should be given to the collection of anamnestic information in order to more precisely target for examination those subjects at greater risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection.