Citation

Simmons KJ, Hicks DJ. J. Pediatr. Adolesc. Gynecol. 2005; 18(5): 343-345.

Affiliation

Rape Treatment Center, Jackson Memorial Hospital, and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Miami, Miami, Florida 33136, USA. ksimmons@med.miami.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jpag.2005.06.006

PMID

16202938

Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine the yield of routine vaginal cultures for Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis from girls evaluated following sexual abuse. METHODS: Retrospective chart review evaluating results of cultures that were obtained from 2008 prepubertal girls seen within 72 hours following an assault over two periods of 3 years each. RESULTS: It was found that only 16 (0.8%) of cultures were positive for either gonorrhea or chlamydia. All but one of the prepubertal girls who had positive vaginal cultures for sexually transmitted disease had signs of acute vulvovaginitis. CONCLUSION: Routine vaginal cultures in asymptomatic pre-pubertal girls have a very low yield. Prospective studies are required to change current protocols for the evaluation of child victims of sexual abuse.

Language: en