What is the course of treatment for a bacterial vaginal infection?
Bacterial vaginosis is the most common cause of vaginal discharge. Recent studies have confirmed its association with pelvic inflammatory disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Bacterial vaginosis is treated with oral metronidazole (given either as a single dose or a seven-day course) or clindamycin. Treatment with topical clindamycin or metronidazole is also effective in returning the vaginal flora to normal but may be less effective in preventing the increased incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Bacterial vaginosis, previously known as nonspecific vaginitis or Gardnerella vaginitis, is the most common cause of vaginal discharge. It may be the cause of up to one half of cases of vaginitis1 in all women and the cause of from 10 to 30 percent of cases in pregnant women.2 This clinical syndrome is now recognized as a polymicrobial superficial vaginal infection involving a loss of the normal lactobacilli and an overgrowth of anaerobes. While commonly found in increased numbers in wo
