A Clinical Conundrum: Chronic Cervicitis

Abstract

Background: Cervicitis is most commonly caused by sexually transmitted infections. "Normal vaginal flora" are rarely responsible for inflammation of the cervix.

Case: We describe a 22-year-old female patient with chronic cervicitis who had negative test results for bacterial and viral pathogens most commonly responsible for cervicitis. After 21 months of symptoms and multiple courses of empiric antibiotics addressing the most common causes of cervicitis, a course of antibiotics targeting group B streptococcus found on a genital culture resolved the patient's illness.

Summary and conclusion: Bacteria considered to be "normal vaginal flora" in a nonpregnant young female adult should be considered as a potential pathogen when test results for more routine pathogens associated with cervicitis are negative.

Keywords: Chronic cervicitis; Group B streptococcus.