New antibiotic combinations aim to achieve a lasting cure for persistent bacterial vaginosis
Researchers and clinicians from Monash University and Bayside Health's Melbourne Sexual Health Centre are testing new combinations of antibiotics to treat persistent bacterial vaginosis (BV), following their discovery that the condition is sexually transmissible.
Researchers from Monash University and Melbourne Sexual Health Centre's Bayside Health are currently examining novel antibiotic combinations to treat recurrent bacterial vaginosis (BV). This condition, which affects women of childbearing age, is caused by an imbalance in the vaginal microbiome. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2025 revealed that treating male partners significantly reduces recurrence rates, but some women continue to experience BV even after their partners are treated.
The latest research, published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Women's Health, sheds light on the reasons behind these repeat infections. Two distinct pathways to repeat BV have been identified: reinfection and the persistence of BV bacteria. Dr. Lenka Vodstrcil, the lead author, noted that this discovery allows for the development of tailored treatments to enhance cure rates for millions of women.
Senior author, Professor Catriona Bradshaw, explained that their team is exploring longer antibiotic courses and new antibiotic combinations aimed at eradicating persistent BV-causing bacteria. By employing partner treatment to prevent reinfection and employing more intensive strategies to combat the persistence of BV bacteria, the researchers hope to create individualized treatment plans that lead to higher cure rates for all women.
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