Application of the Direct Smear Technique for Screening Trichomonas vaginalis and Leukocyte Counting in Patients at Risk of ST

Abstract

Background: Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the flagellated protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis. Women with trichomoniasis commonly present with yellowish-white or grayish-white vaginal discharge that is frothy and malodorous. However, vaginal discharge may also result from other infectious conditions, making laboratory screening essential for establishing an accurate diagnosis.

Objective: This study aimed to screen for the presence of Trichomonas vaginalis in vaginal swab specimens collected from outpatients at the Catur Warga PKBI Clinic, Bali, using the direct smear technique. Methods: This descriptive study was conducted in April 2019 at the Catur Warga PKBI Clinic, Bali. The study population consisted of women at risk of sexually transmitted diseases who underwent examination for T. vaginalis infection. Samples were selected using a consecutive sampling technique, resulting in a total of nine vaginal swab specimens. The specimens were examined using direct smear microscopy, and the findings were analyzed descriptively. Results: All nine vaginal swab specimens (100%) tested negative for Trichomonas vaginalis. The leukocyte count per microscopic field did not indicate T. vaginalis infection (<10 leukocytes/HPF). Based on the participants' clinical complaints, the symptoms were more likely associated with other conditions, such as bacterial vaginosis or vulvovaginal candidiasis, rather than trichomoniasis. Conclusion: No cases of Trichomonas vaginalis infection were identified among the examined outpatients. These findings emphasize the importance of differential diagnosis in women presenting with vaginal discharge and suggest that future studies should include larger sample sizes and populations at higher risk of sexually transmitted infections