Link Between BV and Mycoplasma: New Insights

Is there an association between bacterial vaginosis (BV) and Mycoplasma hominis infection? Yes.

The study

A group of 130 women were studied, with 28 with BV, 22 with intermediate flora, and 80 non-BV women.

Results

Prevalence of Gardnerella vaginalis and Mycoplasma species were evaluated using qPCR testing. Species include Ureaplasma parvum, Mycoplasma hominis, U. urealyticum and M. genitalium.

G. vaginalis – 104 (78 per cent)
U. parvum – 83 (64 per cent)
M. hominis – 34 (26 per cent)
U. urealyticum – 26 (20 per cent)
M. genitalium – 6 (5 per cent)

M. hominis had a significantly higher prevalence across all three groups of women and had a significant trend that increased from non-BV (11 per cent incidence) to intermediate flora (36 per cent) to confirmed BV cases (61 per cent).

There was no other statistically significant association with other bacteria.

Co-infections with G. vaginalis

M. hominis co-infection with G. vaginalis was significantly associated with BV
U. parvum and G. vaginalis co-infections were higher in women with BV (79 per cent) compared to non-BV (46 per cent)
There were no significant associations across G. vaginalis, U. urealyticum and M. genitalium

Bacterial load in the three groups of women

G. vaginalis loads significantly increased upwards from non-BV to confirmed BV results.
M. hominis loads significantly increased between the three groups of women from non-BV up to confirmed BV
U. urealyticum, U. parvum and M. genitalium loads did not show significant differences between the three groups of women
M. hominis and G. vaginalis in dual infections showed a significant positive correlation
Other bacteria showed no correlation with G. vaginalis