Urinary Tract Infections in Women With Bacterial Vaginosis

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the association of bacterial vaginosis with urinary tract infection. One hundred twenty-nine women, recruited at the time of their annual pelvic examination, formed the study population. The initial examination included a standardized questionnaire to obtain information about subjects’ clinical and social histories, routine pelvic examination, collection of specimens for Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis cultures, and collection of a “clean-catch” urine specimen for urine culture and urinalysis. Bacterial vaginosis was diagnosed in 67 women, of whom 15 (22 percent) also had urinary tract infections. Among the 62 women who did not have bacterial vaginosis, 6 (10 percent) had urinary tract infections. The odds ratio for women with bacterial vaginosis also having a urinary tract infection was 2.79 (95% confidence interval = 1.05–8.33). Women with and women without bacterial vaginosis were similar in age (mean = 28 years) and race. The diagnosis of both bacterial vaginosis and urinary tract infection was significantly associated with frequency of sexual intercourse during 1 week (vaginosis: odds ratio = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.09–2.12; urinary tract infection: odds ratio = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.03–2.03). Each additional instance of sexual intercourse increased the risk of infection accordingly. A history of sexually transmitted disease was significantly associated with bacterial vaginosis but not urinary tract infection. Obstet Gynecol 2000;95:710–712