title: [The role of oral probiotic for bacterial vaginosis in pregnant women. A pilot study].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the effects of a dietary supplementation with oral probiotic, and the treatment with vaginal clindamycin in pregnant women with bacterial vaginosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourty pregnant women, with a diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis according to the Amsel criteria, were enrolled between the 10th and the 34th week of gestation. The patients were randomized in two groups. Patients in the group A were treated with probiotic orally (VSL3® Ferring), 2 tablets a day for 5 days, followed by 1 tablet daily for 10 days. Patients in group B were treated with vaginal clindamycin 100 mg daily for 15 days. After 5-10 days from the end of the treatment the patients returned for the follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After treatment the vaginal discharge was completely absent in group A, and reduced in group B. The itching occurred only in 10% of patients in each of the two groups. The improvement of constipation occurs only in the group A (P=0.002). Vaginal swabs resulted negative in both groups in particular for Gardnerella V.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The oral treatment with VSL#3® is effective in the treatment of VB in pregnant women as a topical treatment with clindamycin. In particular for the resolution of leukorrhea, itching and in particular in the bacterial vaginosis caused by Gardnerella V.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento Materno Infantile, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria, Modena, Italia.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Facchinetti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dante
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pedretti
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Resasco
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Annessi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dodero
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000178:diet therapy*; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000178:diet therapy*; D055815:Young Adult