Treatment Of Bacterial Vaginosis Research Articles

Response to Antibiotic Treatment of Bacterial Vaginosis Predicts the Effectiveness of LACTIN-V (Lactobacillus crispatus CTV-05) in the Prevention of Recurrent Disease.

Live biotherapeutic products (LBPs) containing vaginal Lactobacillus crispatus are promising adjuvant treatments to prevent recurrent bacterial vaginosis (BV) but may depend on the success of initial antibiotic treatment. A post hoc analysis of data collected during the phase 2b LACTIN-V randomized control trial (L. crispatus CTV-05) explored the impact of clinical BV cure defined as Amsel criteria 0 of 3 (excluding pH, per 2019 Food and Drug Administration guidance) 2 days after completion of treatment with vaginal metronidazole gel on the effectiveness of an 11-week LACTIN-V dosing regimen to prevent BV recurrence by 12 and 24 weeks. At enrollment, 88% of participants had achieved postantibiotic clinical BV cure. The effect of LACTIN-V on BV recurrence compared with placebo differed by initial clinical BV cure status. The LACTIN-V to placebo risk ratio of BV recurrence by 12 weeks was 0.56 (95% confidence interval, 0.35-0.77) among participants with initial clinical BV cure after metronidazole treatment and 1.34 (95% confidence interval, 0.47-2.23) among participants without postantibiotic clinical BV cure. Among women receiving LACTIN-V, those who had achieved postantibiotic clinical BV cure at enrollment reached higher levels of detectable L. crispatus CTV-05 compared with women failing to achieve postantibiotic clinical BV cure. LACTIN-V seems to only decrease BV recurrence in women with clinical cure of BV after initial antibiotic treatment. Future trials of LBPs should consider limiting enrollment to these women.

Possibilities of using lactobacilli metabolites for the treatment and prevention of bacterial vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis is one of the most common reasons for pathological discharge from the genital tract in women of reproductive age, which, among other things, is characterized by a high recurrence rate after standard antibacterial treatment. To date, issues related to the prevention and treatment of bacterial vaginosis have remained relevant and unresolved. This review article discusses the feasibility of using lactobacilli metabolites in the treatment and prevention of bacterial vaginosis, taking into account the data accumulated. The use of lactic acid as an additional second stage of bacterial vaginosis treatment can be considered as a way to improve the effectiveness of therapy and patient adherence to treatment, as well as to reduce the likelihood of recurrences.

16S rRNA female reproductive microbiome investigation reveals Dalfopristin, Clorgyline, and Hydrazine as potential therapeutics for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a prevalent vaginal illness resulting from a disruption in the vaginal microbial equilibrium. The vaginal microbiota has been shown to have a substantial impact on the development and continuation of BV. This work utilized 16S rRNA sequence analysis of vaginal microbiome samples (Control vs BV samples) utilizing Parallel-Meta 3 to investigate the variations in microbial composition. The unique genes identified were used to determine prospective therapeutic targets and their corresponding inhibitory ligands. Further, molecular docking was conducted and then MD simulations were carried out to confirm the docking outcomes. In the BV samples, we detected several anaerobic bacteria recognized for their ability to generate biofilms, namely Acetohalobium, Anaerolineaceae, Desulfobacteraceae, and others. Furthermore, we identified Dalfopristin, Clorgyline, and Hydrazine as potential therapeutic options for the management of BV. This research provides new insights into the causes of BV and shows the potential effectiveness of novel pharmacological treatments.

Efficacy of Dequalinium Chloride vs Metronidazole for the Treatment of Bacterial Vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common cause of vaginal infection. First-line treatments of BV are metronidazole and clindamycin. Due to the increase in antibiotic resistance, effective nonantibiotic treatments for BV are needed. To examine whether dequalinium chloride, a broad-spectrum antiseptic, is noninferior to oral metronidazole for the treatment of BV. This phase 4, multicenter, triple-blind, double-dummy, parallel, noninferiority randomized clinical trial was conducted from July 29, 2021, to August 25, 2022, with a 1-month follow-up. Participants were premenopausal women 18 years or older with BV from 11 gynecologic practices and 1 hospital in Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech. Patients were randomized to treatment with dequalinium chloride vaginal tablets (10 mg once daily for 6 days) or oral metronidazole (500 mg twice daily for 7 days). Double-dummy medication kits contained vaginal and oral tablets with placebo and active medication. The main outcome was the noninferiority margin (of 15 percentage points) in the absolute difference in clinical cure rates between dequalinium chloride and metronidazole 7 to 11 days after start of treatment (visit 1). Noninferiority was met if the lower 95% CI for the difference in clinical cure rate was less than 15 percentage points at visit 1. A total of 147 women (mean [SD] age, 36.7 [9.0] years) were treated with dequalinium chloride (n = 72) or metronidazole (n = 75). The clinical cure rates at visit 1 were 64 of 69 (92.8%) for dequalinium chloride vs 69 of 74 (93.2%) for metronidazole in the intention-to-treat population, whereas in the per-protocol population, cure rates were 54 of 58 (93.1%) for dequalinium chloride vs 48 of 53 (90.6%) for metronidazole. The treatment differences of -0.5 percentage points (95% CI, -10.8 to 9.8 percentage points; P = .002) in the intention-to-treat population and 2.5 percentage points (95% CI, -9.4 to 14.4 percentage points; P = .001) in the per-protocol population confirmed the noninferiority of dequalinium chloride. The tolerability of dequalinium chloride was rated as very good by 30 of 50 patients (60.0%) but only by 21 of 54 (38.9%) for metronidazole. Three patients in the metronidazole group suspended treatment due to an adverse event. This randomized clinical trial showed that dequalinium chloride was not inferior to metronidazole for the treatment of BV. Dequalinium chloride had a similarly high cure rate but with better tolerability and fewer adverse events. With a similar efficacy to metronidazole and clindamycin, dequalinium chloride warrants consideration as first-line treatment for BV to help reduce antibiotic consumption. EudraCT: 2020-002489-15.

Is the Early Screening of Lower Genital Tract Infections Useful in Preventing Adverse Obstetrical Outcomes in Twin Pregnancy?

Objectives: Twin pregnancy implies a higher risk of preterm birth and, consequently, higher neonatal morbidity and mortality. In singleton pregnancies, infections of the lower genital tract (LGTIs) and bacterial vaginosis are associated with preterm labor, and their early detection has been proven effective in reducing complications like the preterm premature rupture of membranes (pPROM) and preterm delivery. The same evidence, however, is lacking for twin pregnancies. This study aimed to evaluate whether the early identification and treatment of LGTIs or bacterial vaginosis in asymptomatic women with twin pregnancy could reduce the rate of miscarriages, pPROM, and preterm birth. Methods: This study performed a retrospective comparison of 285 women with a multiple pregnancy submitted for a cervico-vaginal swab only at 20-22 weeks (Single Test Group, STG), and 199 women who underwent the swab at 12-14 and again at 20-22 weeks (Double Test Group, DTG). All women included in the study had a twin pregnancy and were followed up at Sant'Anna Hospital, Turin (Italy), between September 2012 and February 2021. Results: In STG, 21.7% of patients had a positive swab; in DTG, 19.9% had an early positive swab that was immediately treated by targeted antibiotics; and 16.7% had a mid-pregnancy positive swab. The DTG showed a significantly lower incidence of pPROM in univariate analysis (14.4% vs. 23.1%, p = 0.021), which was confirmed by multivariate analysis (OR 0.55, CI 0.33-0.93, p = 0.025). Conclusions: Our study suggests that, in asymptomatic women with twin pregnancy, the early screening of LGTIs and bacterial vaginosis by a cervico-vaginal swab at 12-14 weeks of gestational age is effective in reducing the risk of pPROM.

Vaginal microbiota and spontaneous preterm birth in pregnant women at high risk of recurrence

We describe vaginal microbiota, including Gardnerella species and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), during pregnancy and their associations with recurrent spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB). We performed a prospective cohort study in a tertiary referral centre in the Netherlands, among pregnant women with previous sPTB <34 weeks' gestation. Participants collected three vaginal swabs in the first and second trimester. Vaginal microbiota was profiled with 16S rDNA sequencing. Gardnerella species and STI's were tested with qPCR. Standard care was provided according to local protocol, including screening and treatment for bacterial vaginosis (BV), routine progesterone administration and screening for cervical length shortening. Of 154 participants, 26 (16.9 %) experienced recurrent sPTB <37 weeks' gestation. Microbiota composition was not associated with sPTB. During pregnancy, the share of Lactobacillus iners-dominated microbiota increased at the expense of diverse microbiota between the first and second trimester. This change coincided with treatment for BV, demonstrating a similar change in microbiota composition after treatment. In this cohort of high-risk women, we did not find an association between vaginal microbiota composition and recurrent sPTB. This should be interpreted with care, as these women were offered additional preventive therapies to reduce sPTB according to national guidelines including progesterone and BV treatment. The increase observed in L. iners dominated microbiota and the decrease in diverse microbiota mid-gestation was most likely mediated by BV treatment. Our findings suggest that in recurrent sPTB occurring despite several preventive therapies, the microbe-related etiologic contribution might be limited.

Antibiofilm Agents for the Treatment and Prevention of Bacterial Vaginosis: A Systematic Narrative Review.

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is difficult to eradicate due to BV biofilms protecting BV bacteria (Gardnerella, Prevotella, and other genera). With the growing understanding of biofilms, we systematically reviewed the current knowledge on the efficacy of anti-BV biofilm agents. We searched literature in the Scopus, Medline, and Embase databases for empirical studies investigating substances for the treatment of BV biofilms or prevention of their recurrence and their efficacy and/or safety. Of 201 unique titles, 35 satisfied the inclusion criteria. Most studies (89%) reported on preclinical laboratory research on the efficacy of experimental antibiofilm agents (80%) rather than their safety. Over 50% were published within the past 5 years. Agents were classified into 7 groups: antibiotics, antiseptics, cationic peptides, enzymes, plant extracts, probiotics, and surfactants/surfactant components. Enzymes and probiotics were most commonly investigated. Earlier reports of antibiotics having anti-BV biofilm activity have not been confirmed. Some compounds from other classes demonstrated promising anti-BV biofilm efficacy in early studies. Further research is anticipated on successful antibiofilm agents. If confirmed as effective and safe in human clinical trials, they may offer a breakthrough in BV treatment. With rising antibiotic resistance, antibiofilm agents will significantly improve the current standard of care for BV management.

The role of sialidases in the pathogenesis of bacterial vaginosis and their use as a promising pharmacological target in bacterial vaginosis.

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is an infection of the genital tract characterized by disturbance of the normally Lactobacilli-dominated vaginal flora due to the overgrowth of Gardnerella and other anaerobic bacteria. Gardnerella vaginalis, an anaerobic pathogen and the major pathogen of BV, produces sialidases that cleave terminal sialic acid residues off of human glycans. By desialylation, sialidases not only alter the function of sialic acid-containing glycoconjugates but also play a vital role in the attachment, colonization and spread of many other vaginal pathogens. With known pathogenic effects, excellent performance of sialidase-based diagnostic tests, and promising therapeutic potentials of sialidase inhibitors, sialidases could be used as a biomarker of BV. This review explores the sources of sialidases and their role in vaginal dysbiosis, in aims to better understand their participation in the pathogenesis of BV and their value in the diagnosis and treatment of BV.

Effectiveness and Costs of Molecular Screening and Treatment for Bacterial Vaginosis to Prevent Preterm Birth: The AuTop Randomized Clinical Trial

ABSTRACT One of the risk factors for preterm birth (PTB) is bacterial vaginosis (BV), a common, often asymptomatic, vaginal dysbiosis. The earlier BV is diagnosed based on gestational age, the higher the risk of PTB. The effectiveness of a screen-and-treat strategy for BV during pregnancy remains a source of debate. One meta-analyses, including 5 studies and 2346 patients, showed a benefit to screen and treat using clindamycin. Another, with 21 studies and 7847 patients, did not recommend BV screening but observed reductions in preterm delivery by 50% and miscarriages by 80%. In another systematic review, with 48 studies, there was varying accuracy across conventional screening tests for BV and suggested no or inconclusive efficacy in the treatment of asymptomatic BV in the general obstetric population and in those with a history of preterm delivery. Based on these studies, French and international organizations recommend against screening for BV with conventional diagnosis tools in low-risk populations. However, molecular diagnostic tools have been shown to be more accurate in identifying vaginal microbiota than conventional tools, such as clinical diagnosis based on Amsel or Nugent criteria. Molecular tools have been shown to provide an objective, reproducible, quantitative diagnosis of BV, identifying emergent pathogen species, such as Atopobium vaginae (now known as Fannyhessea vaginae). To date, no randomized studies have been conducted to assess the impact of molecular tools on a screen-and-treat intervention to BV. The aim of this study was to assess whether a screen-and-treat intervention using a molecular diagnostic tool is cost-effective in reducing the rate of PTB. The AuTop Trial was a prospective, open-label superiority trial conducted in 19 French maternity hospitals from March 9, 2015, to December 18, 2017. Included were adult women in early pregnancy (&lt;20 weeks of gestation), with no history of PTB or late abortion and no major risk factors for prematurity. Excluded were patients who had extrauterine pregnancy or nonprogressive pregnancy, or were treated with antibiotics a week before inclusion in the study. Women were randomly assigned 1:1 to undergo molecular screening and treatment (intervention group) or receive usual care (control group). The intervention group was asked to self-collect vaginal swabs and return them within 15 days of collection for each month until 28 weeks of gestation. If BV was detected, treatment with azithromycin (1 g repeated after 48 hours) or amoxicillin (2 g/d for 7 days) was provided within 48 hours. A molecular biology-based rapid diagnostic tool designed for point-of-care testing was developed using real-time polymerase chain reaction assays to quantify DNA levels of A. vaginae. The tool's specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value, and negative predicative value of the tool were 99%, 95%, 95%, and 99%, respectively, compared with other diagnostic techniques. The control group received usual care with no systematic screening of BV. A total of 6671 women were randomly assigned 1:1 to the intervention group (n = 3333) or control group (n = 3338). At inclusion, a total of 3438 were nulliparous pregnancies, with 1671 in the intervention group and 1767 in the control group. In the intention-to-treat analysis, no reduction in the rate of PTB was observed between the intervention and control group (3.8% vs 4.6%, respectively; risk ratio, 0.83; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66–1.05; P = 0.12). The average cost of intervention per woman was €203.60 (US $218.00). No significant differences were observed in the total cost in the intervention group versus control group (€3344.30 [US $3580.50] vs €3272.90 [US $3504.10]). In addition, no evidence of superiority was observed for the intervention strategy compared with usual care. However, in the nulliparous subgroup, the number of PTBs was significantly lower in the intervention group (3.6%; 95% CI, 2.9–4.6) than the control group (5.9%, 95% CI, 4.8–7.2), and the cost was nonsignificant. In conclusion, the molecular diagnostic tool for screening and treating BV did not significantly reduce the risk of PTBs. Although no significant benefit was found in the overall population, the screen-and-treat strategy using a molecular tool was more effective than usual care in reducing PTBs among nulliparous pregnant women.

A multicentre, randomized, double blind, placebo controlled pilot study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of colloidal Nano silver gel (SilverSol) in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis, vulvovaginal candidiasis and trichomoniasis

The study evaluated the efficacy and safety of colloidal nano silver gel (SilverSol Vagigel) (A patented technology from American Biotech Labs, USA) in combination with 0.2% lactic acid in the female subjects for the treatment of vaginal infections.This study was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study in which post-menarchal female subjects between 18 and 65 years of age clinically diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis and vulvovaginal candidiasis were enrolled. The participants were randomized to receive treatment with SilverSol Vagigel or placebo (vehicle) gel (both treatments as one 4 gm application inserted into the vagina with an applicator device, once daily at bedtime for internal use and 2 gm gel for local application to the vulva and vagina for external use twice daily for a period of 14 days). The primary endpoint evaluated was the proportion of subjects achieving clinical cure. The secondary endpoint was the proportion of subjects achieving microbiological cure at the end of the study visit. A total of 57 subjects were randomized in the study out of which 38 subjects were randomized in SilverSol Vagigel arm and 19 subjects were randomized in placebo arm. SilverSol Vagigel significantly improved cure rates of vaginal infections compared to placebo. The proportion of subjects achieving clinical cure of vaginal infections was higher i.e., 33 (86.84%) subjects in SilverSol Vagigel arm compared to 07 (41.18%) subjects in Placebo gel arm (p-value: 0.0009). The clinical cure rate with SilverSol Vagigel was 81.82% (P=0.1758) for bacterial vaginosis and 92.59% (P=0.0010) for vulvovaginal candidiasis patients at the end of the study. Overall SilverSol Vagigel treatment resulted in a significantly higher microbial cure of vaginal infections (P=0.0028) compared to placebo, with a microbial cure rate of 100% for bacterial vaginosis (P=0.0330) and 85.19% for vulvovaginal candidiasis (P=0.0097). No adverse events were reported in subjects treated with SilverSol Vagigel.Colloidal Nano Silver Gel (SilverSol Vagigel) was effective and safe in treating bacterial vaginosis and vulvovaginal candidiasis.

Bacterial vaginosis and related sexually transmitted diseases as a risk factor for tubalperitoneal infertility (literature review)

The article presents a review of the literature on a pressing problem in clinical medicine — risk factors for tubo-peritoneal infertility. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is one of the factors of increased risk of tubo-peritoneal infertility. Presumably, there are two mechanisms of tubo-peritoneal infertility associated with BV: firstly, the increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines, resulting in the attack of seminal fluid, and secondly, the cleavage of cervical mucus by bacterial mucinases, which improves adhesion by pathogenic microorganisms, contributing to colonization with a further tendency to diseases of the upper reproductive tract, including infertility. Women who have BV are more likely to suffer from inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs caused by C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae, which leads to tubo- peritoneal infertility. Therefore, timely detection and treatment of BV is crucial.

Experience with clindamycin and lactic acid in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis

Background. Currently, the search for the most effective methods to treat bacterial vaginosis remains relevant because of the high recurrence rate and resistance of the associated bacteria to antimicrobial drugs, along with the potential side effects of antibiotic therapy. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and tolerability of using clindamycin and lactic acid sequentially, in comparison to lactic acid monotherapy, for women with bacterial vaginosis.&#x0D; Materials and methods. An open, randomized, comparative clinical study was conducted with 20 women (aged 18–45 years) who had bacterial vaginosis diagnosed according to R. Amsel criteria. The patients were randomly allocated into two groups, each comprising 10 patients. Group 1 took lactic acid, whereas group 2 employed clindamycin and lactic acid. After 14 days, clinical and laboratory efficacy was assessed based on Amsel criteria.&#x0D; Results. Objective and subjective symptoms such as vaginal discharge of whitish-gray color with unpleasant odor were not observed in both groups 2 weeks after the end of treatment. Positive dynamics of vaginal pH was recorded in both groups; however, a more pronounced effect was observed in women who used clindamycin and lactic acid.&#x0D; Conclusions. Both sequential clindamycin and lactic acid monotherapy demonstrated high clinical efficacy and good tolerability. Posttreatment pH values did not differ significantly between the two groups; however, a greater pH deviation was observed in the clindamycin and lactic acid sequential group. Further evaluations of long-term results are necessary.

IgA coating of vaginal bacteria is reduced in the setting of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and preferentially targets BV-associated species.

Immunoglobulin (Ig) bacterial coating has been described in the gastrointestinal tract and linked to inflammatory bowel disease; however, little is known about Ig coating of vaginal bacteria and whether it plays a role in vaginal health including bacterial vaginosis (BV). We examined Ig coating in 18 women with symptomatic BV followed longitudinally before, 1 week, and 1 month after oral metronidazole treatment. Immunoglobulin A (IgA) and/or immunoglobulin G (IgG) coating of vaginal bacteria was assessed by flow cytometry, and Ig coated and uncoated bacteria were sorted and characterized using 16S rRNA sequencing. Despite higher levels of IgG compared to IgA in cervicovaginal fluid, the predominant Ig coating the bacteria was IgA. The majority of bacteria were uncoated at all visits, but IgA coating significantly increased after treatment for BV. Despite similar amounts of uncoated and IgA coated majority taxa ( >1% total) across all visits, there was preferential IgA coating of minority taxa (0.2%-1% total) associated with BV including Sneathia, several Prevotella species, and others. At the time of BV, we identified a principal component (PC) driven by proinflammatory mediators that correlated positively with an uncoated BV-associated bacterial community and negatively with an IgA coated protective Lactobacillus bacterial community. The preferential coating of BV-associated species, increase in coating following metronidazole treatment, and positive correlation between uncoated BV-associated species and inflammation suggest that coating may represent a host mechanism designed to limit bacterial diversity and reduce inflammatory responses. Elucidating the role of Ig coating in vaginal mucosal immunity may promote new strategies to prevent recurrent BV.

Association of Chlamydia trachomatis burden with the vaginal microbiota, bacterial vaginosis, and metronidazole treatment.

Bacterial vaginosis (BV), a dysbiosis of the vaginal microbiota, is a common coinfection with Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct), and BV-associated bacteria (BVAB) and their products have been implicated in aiding Ct evade natural immunity. Here, we determined if a non-optimal vaginal microbiota was associated with a higher genital Ct burden and if metronidazole, a standard treatment for BV, would reduce Ct burden or aid in natural clearance of Ct infection. Cervicovaginal samples were collected from women at enrollment and, if testing positive for Ct infection, at a follow-up visit approximately one week later. Cervical Ct burden was assessed by inclusion forming units (IFU) and Ct genome copy number (GCN), and 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to determine the composition of the vaginal microbiota. We observed a six-log spectrum of IFU and an eight-log spectrum of GCN in our study participants at their enrollment visit, but BV, as indicated by Amsel's criteria, Nugent scoring, or VALENCIA community state typing, did not predict infectious and total Ct burden, although IFU : GCN increased with Amsel and Nugent scores and in BV-like community state types. Ct burden was, however, associated with the abundance of bacterial species in the vaginal microbiota, negatively with Lactobacillus crispatus and positively with Prevotella bivia. Women diagnosed with BV were treated with metronidazole, and Ct burden was significantly reduced in those who resolved BV with treatment. A subset of women naturally cleared Ct infection in the interim, typified by low Ct burden at enrollment and resolution of BV. Abundance of many BVAB decreased, and Lactobacillus increased, in response to metronidazole treatment, but no changes in abundances of specific vaginal bacteria were unique to women who spontaneously cleared Ct infection.

Dequalinium Chloride for the Treatment of Vulvovaginal Infections: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Women at reproductive age frequently experience vulvovaginal infections and vaginitis. The most common etiologies are vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), bacterial vaginosis (BV), desquamative inflammatory vaginitis/aerobic vaginitis, and trichomoniasis. Various treatment options are available for these infections, such as specific antimicrobial or antiseptic agents. Dequalinium chloride (DQC) is a local antiseptic agent with a broad antimicrobial and antifungal spectrum. Multiple studies suggest that DQC is an efficient treatment for vaginal infections; however, it is not widely recommended as a first-line treatment. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy of DQC compared with that of standard treatment. Our systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and clinicaltrials.org were searched to retrieve relevant reports up to October 2022. Four randomized controlled studies and 1 observational study were included in this review. Overall, DQC showed noninferiority to the reference treatments for BV and VVC, and to the evaluated treatment options for desquamative inflammatory vaginitis/aerobic vaginitis. For BV and VVC, this could also be confirmed in a meta-analysis including 3 randomized controlled studies. No serious adverse events were reported in any of these studies. Dequalinium chloride offers a safe, well-tolerated, and efficient treatment option for vulvovaginal infections of different etiologies. However, further studies are needed to confirm our findings and allow inclusion of DQC as a first-line treatment into guidelines.

VIBES: A consensus subtyping of the vaginal microbiota reveals novel classification criteria

This study aimed to develop a robust classification scheme for stratifying patients based on vaginal microbiome. By employing consensus clustering analysis, we identified four distinct clusters using a cohort that includes individuals diagnosed with Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) as well as control participants, each characterized by unique patterns of microbiome species abundances. Notably, the consistent distribution of these clusters was observed across multiple external cohorts, such as SRA022855, SRA051298, PRJNA208535, PRJNA797778, and PRJNA302078 obtained from public repositories, demonstrating the generalizability of our findings. We further trained an elastic net model to predict these clusters, and its performance was evaluated in various external cohorts. Moreover, we developed VIBES, a user-friendly R package that encapsulates the model for convenient implementation and enables easy predictions on new data. Remarkably, we explored the applicability of this new classification scheme in providing valuable insights into disease progression, treatment response, and potential clinical outcomes in BV patients. Specifically, we demonstrated that the combined output of VIBES and VALENCIA scores could effectively predict the response to metronidazole antibiotic treatment in BV patients. Therefore, this study's outcomes contribute to our understanding of BV heterogeneity and lay the groundwork for personalized approaches to BV management and treatment selection.

Two into one does go: Formulation development of a multipurpose combination vaginal ring releasing dapivirine and metronidazole for prevention of HIV infection and treatment of bacterial vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common but often asymptomatic dysbiosis of the human vagina characterized by an imbalance in the normal vaginal microbiota due to loss of lactobacilli and an overgrowth of certain anaerobic bacteria. While BV itself is not a sexually transmitted infection, it is associated with an increased risk in women of various sexually acquired infections, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. There is, therefore, a strong rationale for pursuing new multipurpose products that seek to treat or prevent BV alongside preventing HIV infection. With the dapivirine-releasing vaginal ring for HIV prevention now approved in several African countries, here we report formulation development of a next-generation ring product that releases both dapivirine (DPV) and the antibiotic drug metronidazole (MET). Following thermal analysis studies to characterize the phase behaviour of DPV-MET mixtures and rheological analysis to assess the cure characteristics of the active silicone elastomer mixes, matrix-type rings were manufactured containing 25 or 200 mg DPV in combination with 100, 250, 500, 1000 or 2000 mg MET. The results for drug content, in vitro release, mechanical testing, and Gardnerella vaginalis time-kill experiments demonstrate the feasibility of incorporating both DPV and MET in a matrix-type ring formulation and indicate that clinically effective release rates may be possible.

The role of pre/probiotics in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis

Foley Hospital Corporation/South Baldwin Regional Medical Center, Foley, AL The corresponding author is Timothy Mott, MD; [email protected]. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Systematic review and Meta-analysis of efficacy and safety of Kushen Gelatum combined with antibiotics in treatment of bacterial vaginosis

This study aims to systematically evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Kushen Gelatum combined with antibiotics for treating bacterial vaginosis. The randomized controlled trial(RCT) of Kushen Gelatum for treating bacterial vaginosis were retrieved from CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, SinoMed, PubMed, and Cochrane Library with the time interval from inception to January 2023. Data were extracted from the included RCT by 2 investigators, including the sample size, characteristics of patients, interventions and controls, outcome indicators, and adverse effects. The Cochrane collaboration network's bias risk assessment tool was used for methodolo-gical quality evaluation of the included trials. RevMan 5.4 was employed to perform the Meta-analysis. A total of 19 RCTs were inclu-ded, involving 1 980 patients with bacterial vaginosis. Meta-analysis showed that, compared with nitroimidazoles alone, Kushen Gelatum + nitroimidazoles improved the total response rates in terms of clinical symptoms and laboratory tests(RR=1.24, 95%CI[1.13, 1.36], P&lt;0.000 01), laboratory tests(RR=1.16, 95%CI[1.06, 1.26], P=0.000 9), and clinical symptoms(RR=1.26, 95%CI[1.08, 1.46], P=0.003), and reduced the leukocyte esterase positive rate(RR=0.29, 95%CI[0.17, 0.48], P&lt;0.000 01) and the recurrence rate(RR=0.37, 95%CI[0.23, 0.58], P&lt;0.000 1). Compared with lincomycin antibiotics(clindamycin) alone, Kushen Gelatum + lincomycin antibiotics(clindamycin) improved the total response rates in terms of clinical symptoms and laboratory tests(RR=1.18, 95%CI[1.06, 1.31], P=0.003) and laboratory tests(RR=1.27, 95%CI[1.04, 1.54], P=0.02), reduced the recurrence rate(RR=0.20, 95%CI[0.05, 0.75], P=0.02), and shortened the time to relief of burning sensation(MD=-1.70, 95%CI[-2.15,-1.26], P&lt;0.000 01), vaginal itching(MD=-0.82, 95%CI[-1.30,-0.34], P=0.000 8), and abnormal leucorrhea(MD=-1.52, 95%CI[-1.98,-1.06], P&lt;0.000 01). Compared with nitroimidazoles + probiotics, Kushen Gelatum + nitroimidazoles + probiotics improved the total response rate in terms of clinical symptoms and laboratory tests(RR=1.18, 95%CI[1.02, 1.36], P=0.03) and reduced the recurrence rate(RR=0.27, 95%CI[0.09, 0.76], P=0.01). Kushen Gelatum combined with antibiotics demonstrates a potential therapeutic effect on bacterial vaginosis, whereas the number and quality of the relevant clinical studies remain to be improved. The process of clinical trial should be standardized to improve the quality of evidence, so as to provide strong evidence to guide the application of Kushen Gelatum in clinical practice.

Bacterial vaginosis: modern aspects of pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment

In healthy women under normal conditions, the vaginal microbiome is primarily dominated by Lactobacillus (lactobacilli), which produce a variety of antimicrobial compounds. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is characterized by the absence or significant decrease in the total number of lactobacilli and an increase in the concentration of anaerobic microbes. It is a prevalent condition among women of reproductive age worldwide. Its influence on adverse gynecological and obstetric outcomes, such as sexually transmitted infections, pelvic inflammatory diseases, and preterm labor, has been confirmed. Gardnerella vaginalis is the most frequent microorganism identified in BV and predominant in polymicrobial biofilms, which serve as a protective barrier for G. vaginalis and other BV-associated microbes from the host organism.&#x0D; This review discusses the latest research findings on the pathogenesis of BV, diagnostic approaches, treatment options, and possible strategies to reduce disease recurrence.&#x0D; Although various treatment regimens for the disease are currently known, they often lack long-term effectiveness. The aim of this review is to consider the peculiarities of the vaginal microbiome, summarize the current information on the development and methods of treatment of BV, and emphasize on the latest achievements of conducted studies.