Bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy. Should we screen for and treat it?
OBJECTIVE
Some of my patients have been diagnosed with bacterial vaginousis (BV) during pregnancy; some have symptoms, others do not. Should I be treating them, and if so, with what? Also, should I be screening all my pregnant patients for BV?


CONCLUSIONS
There appears to be no benefit to screening or treating pregnant women with an average risk of BV. It is not even clear that treating pregnant women at high risk of BV is beneficial. If you decide to treat, the drugs of choice are oral or intravaginal gel metronidazole or oral clindamycin. Both these drugs are safe to use throughout pregnancy.
Einarson
Adrienne
A
Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ont.
Koren
Gideon
G
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002981:Clindamycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D008795:Metronidazole; D002981:Clindamycin