Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine
Volume 14, Issue 4 , Pages 200-203 , August 2009

Bacterial vaginosis: A problematic infection from both a perinatal and neonatal perspective

  • Jeff M. Denney

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Maternal–Fetal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
  • ,
  • Jennifer F. Culhane

      Affiliations

    • Department of Adolescent Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Address: NCS CHOP Study Center, 34th & Civic, CHOP North – Suite 880, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4399, USA. Tel.: +1 267 426 6844; fax: +1 267 426 5615.

References 

  1. Colli E, Bertulessi C, Landoni M, Parazzini F. Bacterial vaginosis in pregnancy and preterm birth: evidence from the literature. J Int Med Res. 1996;24:317–324
  2. Shanon H. Diagnostic microbiology of bacterial vaginosis. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1993;165:1240–1244
  3. Carey JC, Klebanoff MA, Hauth JC, et al. Metronidazole to prevent preterm delivery in pregnant women with asymptomatic bacterial vaginosis. N Engl J Med. 2000;342:534–540
  4. Simoes JA, Giraldo PC, Faundes A. Prevalence of cervicovaginal infections during gestation and accuracy of clinical diagnosis. Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol. 1998;6:129–133
  5. Amsel R, Totten PA, Spiegel CA, Chen KC, Eschenbach D, Holmes KK. Nonspecific vaginitis. Diagnostic criteria and microbial and epidemiologic associations. Am J Med. 1983;74:14–22
  6. Hillier SL. Diagnostic microbiology of bacterial vaginosis. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1993;169:455–459
  7. Nugent RP, Krohn MA, Hillier SL. Reliability of diagnosing bacterial vaginosis is improved by a standardized method of gram stain interpretation. J Clin Microbiol. 1991;29:297–301
  8. Lamont RF, Anthony F, Myatt L, Booth L, Furr PM, Taylor-Robinson D. Production of prostaglandin E2 by human amnion in vitro in response to addition of media conditioned by microorganisms associated with chorioamnionitis and preterm labor. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1990;162:819–825
  9. Donders GG, Van Bulck B, Caudron J, Londers L, Vereecken A, Spitz B. Relationship of bacterial vaginosis and mycoplasmas to the risk of spontaneous abortion. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2000;183:431–437
  10. Roy S. Nonbarrier contraceptives and vaginitis and vaginosis. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1991;165:1240–1244
  11. Gravett MG, Hitti J, Hess DL, Eschenbach DA. Intrauterine infection and preterm delivery: evidence for activation of the fetal hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2000;182:1404–1413
  12. Goldenberg RL, Hauth JC, Andrews WW. Intrauterine infection and preterm delivery. N Engl J Med. 2000;342:1500–1507
  13. Guaschino S, De Seta F, Piccoli M, Maso G, Alberico S. Aetiology of preterm labour: bacterial vaginosis. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 2006;113(Suppl. 3):46–51
  14. Hay PE, Lamont RF, Taylor-Robinson D, Morgan DJ, Ison C, Pearson J. Abnormal bacterial colonisation of the genital tract and subsequent preterm delivery and late miscarriage. Br Med J. 1994;308:295
  15. Gravett MG, Nelson HP, DeRouen T, Critchlow C, Eschenbach DA, Holmes KK. Independent associations of bacterial vaginosis and Chlamydia trachomatis infection with adverse pregnancy outcome. J Am Med Assoc. 1986;256:1899
  16. Hill GB. Preterm birth: associations with genital and possibly oral microflora. Ann Periodontol. 1998;3:222
  17. Kurki T, Sivonen A, Renkonen OV, Savia E, Ylikorkala O. Bacterial vaginosis in early pregnancy and pregnancy outcome. Obstet Gynecol. 1993;168:514–519
  18. Nejad VM, Shafaie S. The association of bacterial vaginosis and preterm labor. J Pak Med Assoc. 2008;58:104–106
  19. Hillier SL, Martius J, Krohn M, Kiviat N, Holmes KK, Eschenbach DA. A case–control study of chorioamnionic infection and histologic chorioamnionitis in prematurity. N Engl J Med. 1988;319:972–978
  20. Hauth JC, Andrews WW, Goldenberg RL. Infection-related risk factors predictive of spontaneous preterm labor and birth. Prenat Neonatal Med. 1998;3:86–90
  21. Romero R, Espinoza J, Gotsch F, et al. The use of high dimensional biology (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics) to understand the preterm parturition syndrome. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 2006;113(S3):118
  22. Popko B, Corbin JG, Baerwald KD, Dupree J, Garcia AM. The effects of interferon-gamma on the central nervous system. Mol Neurobiol. 1997;14:19
  23. Yoon BH, Romero R, Jun JK, et al. Amniotic fluid cytokines (interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 beta, and interleukin-8) and the risk for the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1997;177:825
  24. Yoon BH, Romero R, Yang SH, et al. Interleukin-6 concentrations in umbilical cord plasma are elevated in neonates with white matter lesions associated with periventricular leukomalacia. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1996;174:1433
  25. Yoon BH, Romero R, Park JS, et al. Fetal exposure to an intra-amniotic inflammation and the development of cerebral palsy at the age of three years. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2000;182:675
  26. Nelson DB, Bellamy S, Nachamkin I, Ruffin A, Taylor LA, Friedenberg FK. Characteristics and pregnancy outcomes of pregnant women asymptomatic for bacterial vaginosis. Matern Child Health J. 2008;12:216–222
  27. Nygren P, Fu R, Freeman M, Bougatsos C, Klebanoff M, Guise J. Evidence on the benefits and harms of screening and treating pregnant women who are asymtomatic for bacterial vaginosis: an update review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med. 2008;148:220–233
  28. Koumans EH, Markowitz LE, Hogan V, for the CDC BV Working Group . Indications for therapy and treatment recommendations for bacterial vaginosis in nonpregnant and pregnant women: a synthesis of data. Clin Infect Dis. 2002;35(Suppl. 2):S152–S172
  29. Myer L, Denny L, Telerant R, et al. Bacterial vaginosis and susceptibility to HIV infection in South African women: a nested case–control study. J Infect Dis. 2005;192:1372–1380
  30. Cu-Uvin S, Hogan J, Caliendo AM, et al., Study for the HIV Epidemiology Research  Association between bacterial vaginosis and expression of human immunodeficiency virus type I RNA in the female genital tract. Clin Infect Dis. 2001;33:894–896
  31. Cohn JA, Hahemi FB, Camarca , et al. HIV-inducing factor in cervicovaginal secretions is associated with bacterial vaginosis in HIV-1-infected women. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2005;39:340–346
  32. Martin HL, Richardson BA, Nyange PM, et al. Vaginal lactobacilli, microbial flora, and risk of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and sexually transmitted disease acquisition. J Infect Dis. 1999;180:1863–1868
  33. Cherpes TL, Meyn LA, Krohn MA, et al. Association between acquisition of herpes simplex virus type 2 in women and bacterial vaginosis. Clin Infect Dis. 2003;37:319–325
  34. Daskalakis G, Papapanagiotou A, Mesogitis S, et al. Bacterial vaginosis and Group B Streptococcal colonization and preterm delivery in a low-risk population. Fetal Diagn Ther. 2006;21:172–176
  35. Vallor AC, Antonio MA, Hawes SE, Hillier SL. Factors associated with acquisition of, or persistent colonization by, vaginal lactobacilli: role of hydrogen peroxide production. J Infect Dis. 2001;184:1431–1436
  36. Allsworth JE, Peipert JF. Prevalence of bacterial vaginosis: 2001–2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. Obstet Gynecol. 2007;109:114–120
  37. Simhan HN, Bodnar LM, Krohn MA. Paternal race and bacterial vaginosis during the first trimester of pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2008;198:196.e1–196.e4
  38. Koumans EH, Sternberg M, Bruce C, et al. The prevalence of bacterial vaginosis in the United States, 2001–2004; Associations with symptoms, sexual behaviors, and reproductive health. Sex Transm Dis. 2007;34:864–869
  39. Hassan W, Lavreys L, Chohan V, et al. Associations between intravaginal practices and bacterial vaginosis in Kenyan female sex workers without symptoms of vaginal infections. Sex Transm Dis. 2007;34:384–388
  40. Marrazzo JM, Koutsky LA, Eschenbach DA, et al. Characterization of vaginal flora and bacterial vaginosis in women who have sex with women. J Infect Dis. 2002;185:1307–1313
  41. Lamont RF. Can antibiotics prevent preterm birth – the pro and con debate. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 2005;112:67
  42. Pretorius C, Jaggatt A, Lamont RF. The relationship between periodontal disease, bacterial vaginosis, and preterm birth. J Perinat Med. 2007;35:93–99
  43. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Sexually transmitted diseases treatment guidelines: management of patients who have vaginal infections. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/STD/treatment(accessed September 30, 2008)
  44. Beigi RH, Austin MN, Meyn LA, Krohn MA, Hillier SL. Antimicrobial resistance associated with the treatment of bacterial vaginosis. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2004;191:1124–1129
  45. Morales WJ, Schorr S, Albritton J. Effect of metronidazole in patients with preterm birth in preceding pregnancy and bacterial vaginosis: a placebo-controlled double-blind study. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1994;171:345–347
  46. Hauth JC, Goldenberg RL, Andrews WW, DuBard MB, Cooper RL. Reduced incidence of preterm delivery with metronidazole and erythromycin in women with bacterial vaginosis. N Engl J Med. 1995;173:1527–1531
  47. McDonald HM, O'Loughlin JA, Vigneswaren R, et al. Impact of metronidazole therapy on preterm birth in women with bacterial vaginosis flora (Gardnerella vaginalis): a randomized, placebo controlled trial. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1997;104:1391–1397
  48. Lamont R, Duncan S, Mandal D, Basset P. Intravaginal clindamycin to reduce preterm birth in women with abnormal genital tract. Obstet Gynecol. 2003;101:516–522
  49. Kenyon SL, Taylor DJ, Tarnow-Mordi W ORACLE Collaborative Group. Broad-spectrum antibiotics for spontaneous preterm labour: the ORACLE II randomised trial. Lancet. 2001;357:989–994
  50. McClean H. Impact of metronidazole therapy on preterm birth in women with bacterial vaginosis flora (Gardnerella vaginalis): a randomised, placebo controlled trial. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1997;104:1391–1397
  51. Carey JC, Klebanoff MA, Hauth JC, et al. Metronidazole to prevent preterm delivery in pregnant women with asymptomatic bacterial vaginosis. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Network of Maternal–Fetal Medicine Units. N Engl J Med. 2000;342:534–540
  52. Ugwumadu A, Manyonda I, Reid F, Hay P. Effect of early oral clindamycin on late miscarriage and preterm delivery in asymptomatic woman with abnormal vaginal flora and bacterial vaginosis: a randomized-controlled trial. Lancet. 2003;361:983–988
  53. Klebanoff MA, Hauth JC, MacPherson CA, et al., Network, National Institute for Child Health and Development Maternal–Fetal Medicine Units  Time course of the regression of asymptomatic bacterial vaginosis in pregnancy with and without treatment. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2004;190:363–370

PII: S1744-165X(09)00009-2

doi: 10.1016/j.siny.2009.01.008

Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine
Volume 14, Issue 4 , Pages 200-203 , August 2009