Treatment of Bacterial Vaginosis in Women with Vaginal Bleeding Complications or Discharge and HarboringMobiluncus

Abstract

A double-blind study of treatment for bacterial vaginosis (BV), using metronidazole tablets 500 mg 3 times daily for 10 days versus placebo in the same regimen, was performed on 42 outpatients with irregular bleeding episodes or discharge attending a gynecological clinic. All patients had motile rods in wet smears in addition to fulfilling the criteria for BV. Treatment gave a cure rate of 76% versus 5% in the placebo group. Mobiluncus sp. was identified in 81% of these cases before treatment, in 8% of the cured patients and in 50% of those not initially cured at follow-up. Repeated treatments, once or twice, resulted in a 100% cure rate. A 6-month follow-up was carried out on 39 of the 42 patients. There were 7 relapses after 6 months giving a cure rate of 82%. After successful treatment all bleeding disturbances disappeared. We conclude that it is important to treat BV in patients with symptoms other than malodorous discharge.