Vaginal Microbiome and Sexually Transmitted Infections: an Epidemiologic Perspective

Overview

Journal J Clin Invest

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2011 Dec 3

PMID 22133886

Citations 130

Authors

Rebecca M Brotman

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Vaginal bacterial communities are thought to help prevent sexually transmitted infections. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common clinical syndrome in which the protective lactic acid-producing bacteria (mainly species of the Lactobacillus genus) are supplanted by a diverse array of anaerobic bacteria. Epidemiologically, BV has been shown to be an independent risk factor for adverse outcomes including preterm birth, development of pelvic inflammatory disease, and acquisition of sexually transmitted infections. Longitudinal studies of the vaginal microbiome using molecular techniques such as 16S ribosomal DNA analysis may lead to interventions that shift the vaginal microbiota toward more protective states.

Citing Articles

Curdione combined with borneol treats bacterial mixed HPV infection by regulating the crosstalk among immune cells.

Liu J, Shu T, Mu Y, Zheng W, Lu X, Tao H Front Immunol. 2025; 16:1503355.

PMID: 39911394 PMC: 11794296. DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1503355.

Population-based risk factors and urogenital comorbidities associated with genital herpes: A nationwide study of 4 million women.

Sundqvist C, Li X, Borgfeldt C, Forsberg P, Sundquist K, Jansaker F IJID Reg. 2024; 13:100457.

PMID: 39435377 PMC: 11491714. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijregi.2024.100457.

Intrauterine Shaping of Fetal Microbiota.

Dera N, Zeber-Lubecka N, Ciebiera M, Kosinska-Kaczynska K, Szymusik I, Massalska D J Clin Med. 2024; 13(17).

PMID: 39274545 PMC: 11396688. DOI: 10.3390/jcm13175331.

Protective Mechanisms of Vaginal Lactobacilli against Sexually Transmitted Viral Infections.

Avitabile E, Menotti L, Croatti V, Giordani B, Parolin C, Vitali B Int J Mol Sci. 2024; 25(17).

PMID: 39273118 PMC: 11395631. DOI: 10.3390/ijms25179168.

Simultaneous application of oral and intravaginal probiotics for Helicobacter pylori and its antibiotic-therapy-induced vaginal dysbacteriosis.

Wang Y, Zhang Z, Chen Q, Chen T NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes. 2024; 10(1):49.

PMID: 38902244 PMC: 11190290. DOI: 10.1038/s41522-024-00521-9.

References

Wawer M, Sewankambo N, Serwadda D, Quinn T, Paxton L, Kiwanuka N . Control of sexually transmitted diseases for AIDS prevention in Uganda: a randomised community trial. Rakai Project Study Group. Lancet. 1999; 353(9152):525-35. DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(98)06439-3. View

SWEDBERG J, Steiner J, Deiss F, Steiner S, Driggers D . Comparison of single-dose vs one-week course of metronidazole for symptomatic bacterial vaginosis. JAMA. 1985; 254(8):1046-9. View

McGrory T, Meysick K, Garber G . The interaction of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Trichomonas vaginalis in vitro. J Parasitol. 1994; 80(1):50-4. View

Brotman R, Ghanem K, Klebanoff M, Taha T, Scharfstein D, Zenilman J . The effect of vaginal douching cessation on bacterial vaginosis: a pilot study. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2008; 198(6):628.e1-7. PMC: 2494605. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2007.11.043. View

Kim T, Thomas S, Ho M, Sharma S, Reich C, Frank J . Heterogeneity of vaginal microbial communities within individuals. J Clin Microbiol. 2009; 47(4):1181-9. PMC: 2668325. DOI: 10.1128/JCM.00854-08. View

Peipert J, Lapane K, Allsworth J, Redding C, Blume J, Stein M . Bacterial vaginosis, race, and sexually transmitted infections: does race modify the association?. Sex Transm Dis. 2008; 35(4):363-7. DOI: 10.1097/OLQ.0b013e31815e4179. View

Nelson D, Bellamy S, Nachamkin I, Ness R, Macones G, Allen-Taylor L . First trimester bacterial vaginosis, individual microorganism levels, and risk of second trimester pregnancy loss among urban women. Fertil Steril. 2007; 88(5):1396-403. PMC: 2094106. DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2007.01.035. View

Brotman R, Erbelding E, Jamshidi R, Klebanoff M, Zenilman J, Ghanem K . Findings associated with recurrence of bacterial vaginosis among adolescents attending sexually transmitted diseases clinics. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2007; 20(4):225-31. PMC: 3647449. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpag.2006.11.009. View

Spear G, Sikaroodi M, Zariffard M, Landay A, French A, Gillevet P . Comparison of the diversity of the vaginal microbiota in HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected women with or without bacterial vaginosis. J Infect Dis. 2008; 198(8):1131-40. PMC: 2800037. DOI: 10.1086/591942. View

10.

Owen D, Katz D . A vaginal fluid simulant. Contraception. 1999; 59(2):91-5. DOI: 10.1016/s0010-7824(99)00010-4. View

11.

McCook A . The vagina catalogues. Nat Med. 2011; 17(7):765-7. DOI: 10.1038/nm0711-765. View

12.

Bradshaw C, Morton A, Hocking J, Garland S, Morris M, Moss L . High recurrence rates of bacterial vaginosis over the course of 12 months after oral metronidazole therapy and factors associated with recurrence. J Infect Dis. 2006; 193(11):1478-86. DOI: 10.1086/503780. View

13.

Cu-Uvin S, Hogan J, Caliendo A, Harwell J, Mayer K, CARPENTER C . Association between bacterial vaginosis and expression of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 RNA in the female genital tract. Clin Infect Dis. 2001; 33(6):894-6. DOI: 10.1086/322613. View

14.

Ness R, Kip K, Hillier S, Soper D, Stamm C, Sweet R . A cluster analysis of bacterial vaginosis-associated microflora and pelvic inflammatory disease. Am J Epidemiol. 2005; 162(6):585-90. DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwi243. View

15.

Brotman R, Klebanoff M, Nansel T, Yu K, Andrews W, Zhang J . Bacterial vaginosis assessed by gram stain and diminished colonization resistance to incident gonococcal, chlamydial, and trichomonal genital infection. J Infect Dis. 2010; 202(12):1907-15. PMC: 3053135. DOI: 10.1086/657320. View

16.

Hillier S . The vaginal microbial ecosystem and resistance to HIV. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 1998; 14 Suppl 1:S17-21. View

17.

Grosskurth H, Mosha F, Todd J, Mwijarubi E, Klokke A, Senkoro K . Impact of improved treatment of sexually transmitted diseases on HIV infection in rural Tanzania: randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 1995; 346(8974):530-6. DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(95)91380-7. View

18.

Hallen A, Pahlson C, Forsum U . Bacterial vaginosis in women attending STD clinic: diagnostic criteria and prevalence of Mobiluncus spp. Genitourin Med. 1987; 63(6):386-9. PMC: 1194122. DOI: 10.1136/sti.63.6.386. View

19.

Neggers Y, Nansel T, Andrews W, Schwebke J, Yu K, Goldenberg R . Dietary intake of selected nutrients affects bacterial vaginosis in women. J Nutr. 2007; 137(9):2128-33. PMC: 2663425. DOI: 10.1093/jn/137.9.2128. View

20.

Peters S, Farshy C, Gibson I, Kubota K, Solomon F, Morse S . Behaviors associated with Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis: cervical infection among young women attending adolescent clinics. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2000; 39(3):173-7. DOI: 10.1177/000992280003900307. View