Recurrent Bacterial Vaginosis and Vaginal Acidifying Gel Trial

Indiana University School of Medicine

Status: Completed

Conditions: Bacterial Vaginosis

Treatments: Drug: Vaginal acidifying gel (RepHresh); Drug: Metronidazole control

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00545181

0612-58 (Study #)

Details and patient eligibility

About

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common, complex clinical syndrome characterized by alterations in the normal vaginal flora. Bacterial vaginosis has been associated with a variety of adverse health outcomes including endometritis; post-abortion endometritis; nongonococcal, nonchlamydial pelvic inflammatory disease; and an increased risk of acquiring and transmitting HIV infection. In pregnancy, BV is associated with premature rupture of the membranes, chorioamnionitis, amniotic fluid infection, preterm labor, preterm birth, and postpartum endometritis. Several studies have documented increased postpartum complications in the newborn and infants. The etiology of BV is poorly understood but recurrence is quite common despite treatment. Documented recurrence rate of up to 30% within three months are reported. Small studies have shown that adding vaginal acidifying gel to standard antibiotic regimens may reduce recurrence rates of BV. We plan an RCT comparing standard antibiotic therapy to antibiotics plus vaginal acidifying gel. Our hypothesis is that the addition of an acidifying gel will decrease the chance of recurrence of BV within 3 months.

Full description

Women with recurrent BV will be randomly assigned to standard care of metronidazole vs metronidazole plus vaginal acidifying gel. Symptoms and presence of BV will be measured at followup.

Enrollment: 55 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18 to 50 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. All women of between 18-50 years of age.
2. Confirmed current diagnosis of BV using Amsel's criteria.
3. Women with at least total 2 confirmed episodes of BV including most recent episode (by Amsel's criteria) within a six month period or at least total three or more in the past twelve months

Exclusion criteria

1. Patient who received antibiotic therapy within the past two weeks.
2. Patients who had co-existing gonorrhea or Chlamydia infection
3. Any contraindications or sensitivity to taking the vaginal gel.
4. Allergy to metronidazole
5. Alcoholics or those unable to abstain from alcohol consumption.
6. Pregnancy

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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55 participants in 2 patient groups

Metronidazole plus gel

Experimental group

Description:

Receive metronidazole plus vaginal gel

Treatment:

Drug: Vaginal acidifying gel (RepHresh)

Control- metronidazole alone

Active Comparator group

Description:

Oral Metronidazole antibiotic therapy alone

Treatment:

Drug: Metronidazole control