The association between symptom or microscopy based diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and response to treatment in women with recurrent BV

• Published in: International journal of STD & AIDS Vol. 34; no. 9; p. 608
• Main Authors: Ayinde, Oluseyi, Ross, Jonathan Dc
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.08.2023
• Subjects: treatment < other; women < other; bacterial disease; Diagnosis < other
• ISSN: 1758-1052
• DOI: 10.1177/09564624231158056

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common condition, yet accurate diagnosis remains a challenge. We explored symptom and microscopy-based diagnosis of BV and assessed the influence of these diagnostic approaches on treatment response. BV diagnosis based on patient-reported symptoms, and vaginal swab gram stain microscopy at local laboratories and a central laboratory were compared for women recruited into the VITA trial in England. Multivariable analysis was used to assess the association between the method of diagnosis and symptom resolution 2 weeks after metronidazole treatment. 517 women presenting with vaginal discharge (470/517 [91%]) and/or malodour (440/517 [85%]) were included. The accuracy of patients' vaginal symptoms compared to local laboratory microscopy for BV diagnosis were -discharge, sensitivity 90% and specificity 5%; malodour, sensitivity 84% and specificity 12%, and compared to a central laboratory diagnosis were -discharge, sensitivity 91% and specificity 8%; malodour, sensitivity 88% and specificity 18%. 143/204 (70%) participants reported symptom resolution after treatment and this was associated with a positive baseline local laboratory diagnosis (adjusted relative risk-aRR 1.64 [1.02 to 2.64]), but not with a positive central laboratory diagnosis (aRR 1.14 [0.95 to 1.37]). Symptom resolution occurred in 75% (83/111) of women who were symptom positive/central laboratory BV positive compared to 65% (58/89) who were symptom positive/microscopy negative. Symptoms correlated poorly with microscopy-based BV diagnosis but two-thirds of women with a symptom positive/microscopy negative diagnosis experienced symptom resolution following metronidazole treatment. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal investigation and treatment for microscopy-negative women with typical BV symptoms.