Introduccion: La Vaginosis bacteriana es un problema de salud publica por sus complicaciones gineco-obstetricas. Esta presente en 25-35% de las pacientes que acuden a las consultas ginecologicas y aproximadamente en 50% de los casos asintomaticos. Objetivo: Actualizar sobre los aspectos clinicos y diagnostico de laboratorio de la Vaginosis bacteriana. Materiales y Metodos: Se realizo una revision bibliografica mediante las bases de datos electronicas Medline, SciELO, Lilacs, Pubmed. Se recopilaron articulos de revision o trabajos originales que hubieran sido publicados en los ultimos 5 anos con excepcion de aquellos que por su importancia tuvieron que ser documentados independientemente de su fecha de publicacion. Desarrollo: La Vaginosis bacteriana es una infeccion polimicrobiana caracterizada por un cambio en la flora vaginal, siendo reemplazada con bacterias anaerobias tipo G. vaginalis y especies de Prevotella, Bacteroides, Mobiluncus, entre otras. Es una patologia multifactorial y produce una amplia variedad de complicaciones gineco-obstetricas. El diagnostico se realiza microscopicamente mediante los criterios de Amsel y la cuantificacion de los morfotipos bacterianos, parametros que permiten instaurar un tratamiento oportuno. Conclusiones: Es importante un diagnostico acertado de la Vaginosis bacteriana para evitar complicaciones gineco-obstetricas o terapeuticas por una reaccion adversa del medicamento empleado. Palabras clave: Vaginosis bacteriana, Gardnerella vaginalis, criterios de Amsel, parametros de Nugent, aspectos clinicos, diagnostico de laboratorio ABSTRACT Introduction: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a public health problem because its gynecology obstetric complications. It is present in 25-35% of patients attending gynecological consultations and approximately 50% of asymptomatic cases. Objective : An update about bacterial vaginosis was performed to document the historical background of this entity, etiology, risk factors, gynecological and obstetric complications, clinical manifestations, clinical diagnosis and treatment. In addition, suggestions to help reduce the risk factors involved in the acquisition of this infection are given. Materials and methods : The literature reviewed was performed using the electronic databases Medline, SciELO, Lilacs, Pubmed. Matching the keywords bacterial vaginosis, Amsel criteria, parameters Nugent and G. vaginalis were used. Review articles and original papers that have been published in the last five years with the exception of those whose importance had to be independently documented the date of publication were collected. Development: BV is a polymicrobial infection characterized by a change in vaginal flora, replaced with anaerobic bacteria and type G. vaginalis, Prevotella species, Bacteroides, Mobiluncus among others. It is a multifactorial disease and produces a wide variety of gynecological and obstetric complications. The diagnosis is made microscopically by Amsel criteria and quantification of bacterial morphotypes, establish parameters that allow early treatment. Conclusions : It is important to an accurate diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis to prevent obstetric or gynecological complications therapeutic adverse drug reaction employed. Key words: Bacterial vaginosis, Gardnerellavaginalis , Amsel criteria, Nugent parameters, clinical aspects, laboratory diagnosis.