nonspecific vaginitis [L, non, not, species, form, facere, to make, vagina, sheath; Gk, itis, inflammation] , a term formerly used for any vaginal inflammation for which no specific pathogen could be identified. Most cases of vaginitis today are found to be caused by infections of Gardnerella vaginalis in combination with anaerobic bacteria, although nearly one third of all cases are caused by a protozoa, Trichomonas vaginalis.
