Garnerella-Associated Vaginitis: Comparison of Three Treatment Modalities

Authors: Şelale ÖZMEN, Nilgün Ö. TURHAN, Neslihan C. SEÇKİN

Abstract: Objective: To compare three different treatment protocols for Gardnerella va-ginalis with respect to cure rates and secondary vulvovaginal candidiasis. Methods: In this prospective randomised study, initially 2285 patients with symptoms of bacterial vaginosis were evaluated. Three hundred and seven of them in whom Gard-nerella vaginalis was recovered were eligible for the study. Group I (114 patients) was giver oral metronidazole 500mg twice daily for one week; Group II (96 patients) was prescribed oral metronidazole for one week plus a vaginal suppository of Iyophilised lactobacilli, estriol and lactose for twelve days. The third group (97 patients) was treated only with the lactobacilli, estriol and lactose suppositories for twelve days. If the patient was relieved of her symptoms and Gard-nerella vaginalis was not detected microbiologically at the second visit, it was considered as a cure. The treatment outcomes were compared by Chi-sguare test and a p value below 0.05 was considered as significant. Results: The cure rate of Group III(55.6%) was significantly lower than the cure rates of Group I(87.7%)and II (92.7%) (p=0.0001). Secondary vaginal candidiasis at the completion of the therapy was significantly lower in the second (3.1%) and the third groups (2.1%), while this rate was 12.2% for the first group (p=003). Conclusion: Metronidazole followed by lactobacilli, estriol and lactate suppositories were found to be the best therapy model with respect to cure and secondary candidiasis rates.

Keywords: Gardnerella vaginalis, vaginitis, metronidazole, lactobacilli

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