Title: P371 Effect of metronidazole treatment on recurrent and persistent bacterial vaginosis: a pilot study
Abstract: <h3>Background</h3> This study aims to investigate the effect of metronidazole for the treatment of recurrent and persistent bacterial vaginosis (BV). <h3>Methods</h3> Stored vaginal swabs of 80 African American (AA) women were randomly selected from a previously conducted clinical trial for this pilot study. Women with BV were treated with metronidazole. Vaginal smears were categorized by the Nugent score (NS) [0–3, normal; 4–6, intermediate state; 7–10, BV]. Women were classified as recurrent BV (RBV), persistent BV (PBV) or no BV based on three consecutive NS. RBV occurs when an episode of BV occurs after successful treatment of a prior episode. PBV occurs in instances when BV treatment fails to restore healthy <i>Lactobacillus</i> levels. All women were asymptomatic for BV at baseline and followed every two months for four months. <h3>Results</h3> After four months, 22.5% (CI: 13%, 32%) of women did not have BV, 7.5% (CI: 2%, 13%) had RBV and 70% had PBV (CI: 60%, 80%). 30% of treated women did not have BV compared to 15% of untreated women (p=0.18). BV recurred among 12.5% of treated women and 2.5% of untreated women (p=0.2). BV persisted among 57.5% of treated women and 82.5% of untreated women (p=0.03). Women that were treated had 0.33 decreased odds (95%CI: 0.12, 0.92, p≤0.05) of having PBV as compared to untreated women. The mean age was 21.4 years (SD: 2.11 years). Prior antibiotic use among the sample was low (3.8%), and 75% of women were not treated for BV during their lifetime. Among those who were previously treated for BV, 60% were treated more than five times. Douching was reported by 49% of the sample. <h3>Conclusion</h3> These preliminary findings suggest, standard BV treatment may not be effective among women with RBV or adherence to treatment may be low among women with asymptomatic BV. <h3>Disclosure</h3> No significant relationships.