[Causation and treatment of infectious leucorrhoea at the Cocody University Hospital (Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire)].

OBJECTIVES: to determine the frequency of different bacteria causing infectious leucorrhoea and to calculate the percentage of cures after standard treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: This 7-month prospective descriptive study took place from October 2003 through April 2004 in the gynaecology department of Cocody University Hospital and in the department of sexually-transmitted infections of the Pasteur Institute of Côte d'Ivoire. After identification of the organism causing each case of leucorrhoea, we prescribed treatment according to a standard protocol. Vaginal samples were taken after treatment and tested to assess its success.

RESULTS: The most frequent bacteria discovered, in descending order, were: Gardnerella vaginalis (47%), Candida albicans (29.4%), Chlamydia trachomatis (13.7%), Trichomonas vaginalis (6.9%), and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (2.9%). The overall cure rate was 87%. Treatment failure was most common for C. trachomatis (8 of 14 cases, 57.1%), N. gonorrhoeae (1 of 3 cases) and T. vaginalis (2 of 7 cases, 28.6%). Treatment was 100% effective for G. vaginalis and C. albicans.

CONCLUSION: The fight against sexually-transmitted infections should be intensified, and patients and physicians cautioned about use of doubtful generic drugs.