The role of the vaginal microbiome and host factors in BV recurrence after metronidazole treatment

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is an inflammatory condition caused by an overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria that often recurs after treatment and is associated with adverse reproductive health outcomes. Clinical criteria such as Amsel or Nugent scores are used for diagnosis, but molecular methods offer more comprehensive bacterial understanding. This six-month longitudinal study explores the relationship between vaginal microbiome, transcriptomics, and cytokine profiles to understand the interplay between host factors, the microbiome and recurrent BV inflammation after treatment.