Gonorrhea: diagnosis by gram stain in the female adolescent
E. R. Wald
The Gram-stained smear of secretions in female children and adolescents was
evaluated as a diagnostic aid in acute gonorrhea. A positive smear was
defined as the presence of at least eight or more pairs of Gram-negative,
kidney-bean-shaped diplococci in each of at least two polymorphonuclear
leukocytes. When the Gram-stained smear was compared with culture results
in female patients it detected two thirds of infections and had a very high
specificity. When the smear was positive, the culture was positive in 96%
of the cases. The Gram-stained smear of cervical secretions is recommended
as a guide to the early diagnosis of gonorrhea and its prompt therapy in
the pediatric age group.
