Antibiotics for treating bacterial vaginosis in pregnancy

Treatment of bacterial vaginosis with oral antibiotics reduces preterm, prelabour rupture of membranes and the risk of low birth weight, but not the risk of preterm birth before 37 weeks of gestation. Since the above benefits are unlikely to improve neonatal well-being, in developing countries there may be no justification for implementing routine screening and treatment of bacterial vaginosis.
RHL Commentary by Jadsada Thinkhamrop

EVIDENCE SUMMARY

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) increases the risk of preterm birth and preterm prelabour rupture of the membranes. This systematic review showed that treatment of bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy with oral antibiotics may decrease the risk of preterm prelabour rupture of membranes but not birth less than 37 weeks. Antibiotic treatment decreased preterm prelabour rupture of membranes and low birth weight significantly in the subgroup of women who had a previous preterm birth. The effectiveness of treatment of BV is high and there seem to be few adverse effects from the drug.

Adequately designed randomized controlled trials were included and appropriate outcomes of interest have been analysed in the review.

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References

This document should be cited as: Jadsada Thinkhamrop. Interventions for treating bacterial vaginosis in pregnancy: RHL commentary (last revised: 13 March 2006). The WHO Reproductive Health Library, No 9, Update Software Ltd, Oxford, 2006. www.rhlibrary.com

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