Bacterial vaginosis

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Background

  • Accounts for up to 50% of cases of vaginitis
  • Associated w/ preterm labor and premature rupture of membranes
  • Treat all symptomatic women (including pregnant)
  • Do not treat asymptomatic women (including pregnant)

Diagnosis

  • whitish-gray discharge and odor
    • Lack of discharge makes diagnosis less likely
  • Wet mount shows clue cells: bacteria that line the borders of the vaginal epithelial cells
  • Whiff Test: fishy odor with 10% KOH added

Differential Diagnosis

Vulvovaginitis

Treatment

Antibiotics

First Line Therapy[1]

  • Metronidazole 500 mg PO Twice Daily for 7 days OR
  • Metronidazole gel 0.75%, one full applicator (5 g) intravaginally, Daily for 5 days OR
  • Clindamycin cream 2%, one full applicator (5 g) intravaginally Nightly for 7 days

Metronidazole does not cause a disulfiram-like reaction with alcohol.[2]

Alternative Regimin

  • Clindamycin 300 mg PO BID for 7 days OR
  • Clindamycin ovules 100 mg intravaginally qHS for 3 days (do not use if patient has used latex condom in last 72 hours)

Other regimens have been studied and have varying efficacy compared to placebo but due to cost and availability do not represent alternatives outside of absolute contraindications to preferred regimens.


Pregnant

  • Metronidazole 500mg PO Twice a day x 7 days[1]
  • Metronidazole 250mg PO Three times a day has also been studied[3][4]
  • Although metronidazole crosses the placenta, no evidence of teratogenicity or mutagenic effects among infants has been reported in multiple cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort studies of pregnant women[1]

Prophylaxis (Sexual Assault)


See Also

Source

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 CDC Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021.[1]
  2. Is combining metronidazole and alcohol really hazardous?[2]
  3. Reduced incidence of preterm delivery with metronidazole and erythromycin in women with bacterial vaginosis[3]
  4. Effect of metronidazole in patients with preterm birth in preceding pregnancy and bacterial vaginosis: a placebo-controlled, double-blind study[4]
  5. Sexual Assault and Abuse and STIs – Adolescents and Adults[5]