title: Bacterial vaginosis is associated with uterine cervical human papillomavirus infection: a meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bacterial vaginosis (BV), an alteration of vaginal flora involving a decrease in Lactobacilli and predominance of anaerobic bacteria, is among the most common cause of vaginal complaints for women of childbearing age. It is well known that BV has an influence in acquisition of certain genital infections. However, association between BV and cervical human papillomavirus (HPV) infection has been inconsistent among studies. The objective of this meta-analysis of published studies is to clarify and summarize published literature on the extent to which BV is associated with cervical HPV infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medline and Web of Science were systematically searched for eligible publications until December 2009. Articles were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. After testing heterogeneity of studies, meta-analysis was performed using random effect model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve eligible studies were selected to review the association between BV and HPV, including a total of 6,372 women. The pooled prevalence of BV was 32%. The overall estimated odds ratio (OR) showed a positive association between BV and cervical HPV infection (OR, 1.43; 95% confidence interval, 1.11-1.84).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This meta-analysis of available literature resulted in a positive association between BV and uterine cervical HPV infection.
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Reproductive Health (ICRH), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Evy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gillet
authors.forename: Joris Fa
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Meys
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Verstraelen
authors.forename: Carolyne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bosire
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Sutter
authors.forename: Marleen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Temmerman
authors.forename: Davy Vanden
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Broeck
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000821:virology; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D055815:Young Adult