title: Treatment of bacterial vaginosis: what we have and what we miss.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The disturbing, foul-smelling discharge of bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a nuisance to women. Treatment possibilities for BV are limited and only achieve complete cure in 65 to 85% of cases. In most women, the condition relapses within weeks to months after treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  In search of new therapeutic actions to cure, prevent or delay recurrences of BV, PubMed and web of science were searched for papers with i) decent study layout, ii) proper statistics, iii) comparison group (placebo or standard treatment) and iv) language English, French, Dutch or German. The following keywords were used: bacterial vaginosis and treatment or management or therapy or prophylaxis or prevention. Results were grouped in treatment categories and were discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clindamycin and metronidazole are the standard drugs for BV. As other antibiotic and acidifying treatments are progressively being studied, like tinidazole, rifaximin, nitrofuran, dequalinium chloride, vitamin C and lactic acid, more options have become available for switching therapy, combining therapies and long-term prophylactic use to prevent recurrences. Further studies are needed. Also, adjuvant therapy with probiotics may have a significant role in improving efficacy and in preventing recurrences. However, it is unlikely that probiotics will replace antibiotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Femicare, Clinical Research center for Women, Tienen and Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , Tienen , Belgium.
authors.forename: Gilbert G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Donders
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zodzika
authors.forename: Dace
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rezeberga
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002981:Clindamycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D060085:Coinfection; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D056692:Prebiotics; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D056692:Prebiotics; D008795:Metronidazole; D002981:Clindamycin