Camus C, Penaranda G, Khiri H, et al. - Researchers sought to establish non-inferiority of vaginal-self-sampling (VSS) vs vaginal/cervical classical sampling (VCS: a procedure requiring pelvic examination performed by healthcare professionals) in screening for genital infection (GI) such as bacterial vaginosis (BV) and yeast infection, for sexually transmitted infection (STI), and for asymptomatic carriage of group B streptococcus (GBS) in pregnant women. Further, they examined the feasibility of VSS.

• From 1,027 women, healthcare professionals retrieved VSS and VCS and simultaneously these were carried out on each patient.

• Using VSS and VCS, prevalence of GIs was 39.7% and 38.1%, prevalence of STIs

  • was

  8.5% vs 8.1% and prevalence of GBS were 13.4% and 11.5%, respectively.

• The findings did not suggest VSS as inferior to VCS for the detection of GIs, STIs, and GBS and support the utility of VSS as a universal specimen for detection of lower genital tract infections in women.