ABSTRACT
Bacterial vaginitis can be considered a pathologic entity separate from bacterial vaginosis, candidiasis, and trichomoniasis. It can originate from the introduction of a bacterium that overgrows the dominant bacterium of the vaginal ecosystem, or an alteration within the ecosystem that causes Lactobacillus to lose dominance. In addition, one or more of the endogenous pathogenic bacteria can gain dominance. It is possible that when a significant alteration in the vaginal ecosystem occurs, one or more of the endogenous bacteria can become dominant and produce symptoms that are recognized as vaginitis.
