Molecular Identification of Bacteria Associated with Bacterial Vaginosis

• Published in: The New England journal of medicine Vol. 353; no. 18; pp. 1899 - 1911
• Main Authors: Fredricks, David N, Fiedler, Tina L, Marrazzo, Jeanne M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston, MA Massachusetts Medical Society 03.11.2005
• Subjects: Bacteria; Biological and medical sciences; Case-Control Studies; Clostridiales; Clostridium - classification; Clostridium - genetics; Clostridium - isolation & purification; DNA, Bacterial - analysis; DNA, Ribosomal - analysis; Female; Females; Gardnerella vaginalis - genetics; Gardnerella vaginalis - isolation & purification; General aspects; Humans; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; Infectious diseases; Lactobacillus; Lactobacillus - genetics; Lactobacillus - isolation & purification; Medical sciences; Molecular biology; Phylogeny; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Reproductive system; Vagina - microbiology; Vaginosis, Bacterial - microbiology; Infection; Medicine; Bacterial vaginosis; Association; Bacteriosis; Vaginal diseases; Bacteria; Identification; Female genital diseases
• ISSN: 0028-4793; 1533-4406; 1533-4406
• DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa043802

With the use of molecular methods, investigators characterized the bacteria in vaginal fluid from 27 women with bacterial vaginosis and from 46 women without the condition. In the women with bacterial vaginosis there were more species and far greater bacterial diversity, including several new organisms not previously described. Three bacteria in the Clostridiales order were highly specific for the presence of bacterial vaginosis. The investigators characterized the bacteria in vaginal fluid from 27 women with bacterial vaginosis. Three bacteria in the Clostridiales order were highly specific for the presence of bacterial vaginosis. Bacterial vaginosis is a common condition, affecting millions of women annually, 1 and is associated with numerous health problems including preterm labor resulting in low birth weight, 2 , 3 pelvic inflammatory disease, 4 , 5 and acquisition of the human immunodeficiency virus. 6 , 7 Malodorous vaginal discharge may be the only symptom of bacterial vaginosis, and many affected women are asymptomatic. 8 Studies using cultivation methods have shown that women with bacterial vaginosis have loss of vaginal lactobacilli and concomitant overgrowth of anaerobic and facultative bacteria. Several bacteria have been implicated in bacterial vaginosis, such as Gardnerella vaginalis 9 and Mobiluncus curtisii, 10 but these species are also . . .