Infectious organisms on Papanicolaou smears should not influence the diagnosis of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance.

Background: Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) remain the center of diagnostic controversy and patients' stress despite recent advances in cervical cancer screening and the introduction of human papilloma virus (HPV) testing. The role of infectious agents in the induction of such changes is not well understood.

Aim: We aim at reviewing the effect of the different infectious organisms in Papanicolaou (PAP) smears on the ASCUS diagnosis.