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.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA. jccarey@psu.edu
J C
JC
Carey
M A
MA
Klebanoff
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