Bacterial vaginosis and other asymptomatic vaginal infections in pregnancy.
Preterm birth is a common cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Many asymptomatic genital infections have been associated with preterm birth, but attempts to determine a causal relationship between specific infections and preterm birth have been disappointing. Treatment trials of specific infections have generally failed to show a positive effect, and in some trials have shown a deleterious effect. Although there is a strong association between the presence of bacterial vaginosis and Trichomonas vaginalis in pregnancy and preterm birth, randomized treatment trials have failed to show a benefit of treatment of these organisms. Treatment of asymptomatic bacterial vaginosis or T. vaginalis to prevent preterm birth is not warranted.
Carey
J C
JC
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA. jccarey@psu.edu
Klebanoff
M A
MA
D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011379:Prognosis; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013587:Syphilis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D014245:Trichomonas Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D008795:Metronidazole