• Saima Ashraf, Ammara Haroon, and Asiya Fayyaz.
• Saima Ashraf Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nishtar Hospital, Multan, Pakistan.
• Pak J Med Sci. 2025 Jan 1; 41 (1): 125129125-129.

ObjectiveTo compare the efficacy of a probiotic plus antibiotic with antibiotic therapy alone for the prevention of the recurrence of bacterial vaginosis.MethodA Randomized control trial was conducted in the Gynecological Department of Nishtar Hospital, Multan, between July 2022 and June 2023. One hundred and twenty (N=120) women with bacterial vaginosis, all cured with metronidazole, were enrolled and randomized. In Group-A, Probiotics were administered once a day for 14 days following antibiotic treatment (Tab Metronidazole 400mg, three times a day for seven days). In Group-B, only oral antibiotics were given. The patients were followed up in four visits for five months for bacterial vaginosis recurrence (responders, partial responders, non-responders, and drop-outs) using Amsel criteria by vaginal swabs. All the data was collected on a structured Performa.ResultsThe mean age of enrolled 120 women was 32.28±2.58, and 111(92.5%) were married. Of 120 enrolled women, 8 (6.7%) were dropped out. Evaluating the recurrence rate, the probiotic group (n=57) had fewer recurrences than the placebo (n=55) (8.9% vs 21.4%, p-value <0.05). Group-A had a better responder rate at five months of follow-up than the placebo group (39.2% vs. 25.8%) (RR 0.31, 95%CI: 0.1450-0.7998, p-Value <0.05). Comparing the effect of probiotics on the components of the Amsel criteria, only vaginal discharge had a statistically significant reduction by using probiotics plus antibiotics (p-value≤0.05).ConclusionThis trial showed that probiotics plus antibiotics significantly reduced bacterial vaginosis recurrences than antibiotics alone.Copyright: © Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences.

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