Bacterial Vaginosis: A Review of Pathophysiology, Epidemiology, Complications, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most-common cause of abnormal vaginal discharge among women reproductive age, though many are asymptomatic. It caused by replacement normal Lactobacillus with Gram-negative and anaerobic organisms. BV has assumed increasing public health importance through associations numerous adverse outcomes in both gravid non-gravid women. Risk factors for include smoking, non-White race, prior BV, current other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), inserting items vagina (e.g., sex, douching), menses. Symptomatic been associated pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), miscarriage, premature rupture membranes, chorioamnionitis, labor delivery, postpartum endometritis, post-hysterectomy cuff cellulitis. Anaerobic rods common to have also independently endometritis or PID, even absence clinical BV. an increased risk acquiring STDs, including transmitting HIV. not STD, recent sexual intercourse multiple sexpartners factors. causes a malodorous, white gray diagnosed Amsel’s criteria. Treatment metronidazole clindamycin important symptom relief prevent obstetric consequences, particularly high-risk who had previous preterm delivery pre-pregnancy weight <50 kg.