Microflora changes with the use of a vaginal microbicide.
BACKGROUND
The rate of HIV transmission is increasing more in women than in any other group. There is an urgent need for the development of microbicides with activity against this virus that women can use during intercourse. These products must be convenient, effective, and safe, and ideally they will cause minimal disruption in the normal vaginal ecosystem.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to evaluate changes in vaginal microflora, specifically Lactobacillus species, with the use of BufferGel.


METHODS
A prospective cohort study was performed to evaluate the change in vaginal flora before and after BufferGel use. BufferGel was applied vaginally once or twice daily for 14 days by low-risk abstinent and monogamous women.


RESULTS
There was no change in frequency of Lactobacillus species after BufferGel use. However, there was a decrease in H2O2-producing lactobacilli (from 4.9 x 107 to 1.1 x 107 cfu; P = 0.001). The proportion of facultative gram-negative rods present increased from 27% to 65% after BufferGel use, whereas obligately anaerobic microbes decreased from 62% to 38%.


CONCLUSIONS
Use of BufferGel once or twice daily for 14 days resulted in no clinically significant change in Lactobacillus colonization.
Clarke
Jennifer G
JG
Division of Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brown University School of Medicine, Women and Infants Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
Peipert
Jeffrey F
JF
Hillier
Sharon L
SL
Heber
Walter
W
Boardman
Lori
L
Moench
Thomas R
TR
Mayer
Kenneth
K
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003075:Coitus; D005260:Female; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013089:Spermatocidal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014621:Vagina / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology*
D000180:Acrylic Resins; C420918:BufferGel; D013089:Spermatocidal Agents; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide