title: [Antibiotics and bacterial vaginosis].
abstract: The two questions that arise in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis are: who should be treated and how can the frequent recurrences be avoided? Metronidazole is the reference agent in this setting. At a dose of 500 mg bid for 3-7 days, the clinical and bacteriologic cure rates range from 80 to 100 p. cent. Clindamycin and amoxycillin-clavulanic acid are both effective; amoxycillin is less effective but can be used when other antibiotics are contraindicated (pregnancy, etc.). Not all cases of bacterial vaginosis should be treated, as about 50 p. cent are totally asymptomatic. However, the risk of occasionally serious infectious complications calls for treatment of patients with risk factors, such as symptomatic vaginosis, high-risk pregnancy, a history of gynecological infection, pelvic surgery (particularly by the vaginal route), and sterility. Although bacterial vaginosis is not strictly a sexually transmitted disease, treatment of the partner can reduce the risk of recurrence. Suitable antibiotic treatment is usually associated with clinical and bacteriological resolution of bacterial vaginosis. Unfortunately, long-term follow-up of these patients has shown a risk of recurrence as high as 80 p. cent at nine months, for reasons which remain to be elucidated.
authors: Hôpital de la Grave, Toulouse.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Berrebi
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012008:Recurrence; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
vernacular_title: Antibiotiques et vaginoses bactériennes.