title: History and review of bacterial vaginosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Review publications that significantly impacted on the knowledge of bacterial vaginosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Assessment of information on the epidemiology, bacteriology, and pathology of bacterial vaginosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bacterial vaginosis has a complex microbiology. Further information is required on the epidemiology. The large increase in the concentration of vaginal bacteria among patients with bacterial vaginosis is associated with postpartum and postsurgical infections and with preterm delivery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bacterial vaginosis is the most important vaginal infection because of its potential to cause upper genital tract infection in specific settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Eschenbach
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000266:history* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology