Studies have repeatedly shown that antibiotics have around a 50% failure rate when treating bacterial vaginosis. There are various theories about why this is the case, with one being that antibiotics cannot eliminate the bacterial biofilm.
A study conducted by Swidsinski1, a BV pioneer (you have a lot to thank him for), to see if antibiotic moxifloxacin would work to eliminate the bacterial biofilm created by Gardnerella vaginalis.
Unfortunately, there was no such luck for everyone; however, it worked for some study participants. Twenty women with diagnosed BV were treated with 400mg moxifloxacin for five days.
The results of the study include:
- 15 women showed a significant clinical response to the moxifloxacin according to the Amsel criteria and Nugent score
- Concentrations of adhesive bacteria were reduced significantly
- The incidence and proportion of Atopobium vaginae dropped significantly
- The number of Lactobacillus in the biofilm mass increased when, at first, G. vaginalis was the main component of the polymicrobial biofilm. This was not the case after treatment.
- After treatment, G. vaginalis was not accessible in 75 per cent of women
- After 10-12 weeks, the G. vaginalis biofilm was present in 40 per cent of the women
- This has produced results similar to metronidazole so far as effectiveness goes
References
- 1.Swidsinski A, Dörffel Y, Loening-Baucke V, Schilling J, Mendling W. Response of Gardnerella vaginalis biofilm to 5 days of moxifloxacin treatment. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. 2011;61(1):41-46. doi:10.1111/j.1574-695X.2010.00743.x