Behavioral Predictors of Colonization withLactobacillus crispatusorLactobacillus jenseniiafter Treatment for Bacterial Vaginosis: A Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate predictors of vaginal colonization with lactobacilli after treatment for bacterial vaginosis (BV). METHODS: Vaginal fluid specimens from women with BV underwent qPCR for Lactobacillus crispatus, L. jensenii, and L. iners pre- and posttreatment. RESULTS: Few women with BV were colonized with L. crispatus (4/44, 9%) or L. jensenii (1/44, 2%), though all had L. iners. One month posttreatment 12/44 (27%) had L. crispatus, 12/44 (27%) L. jensenii, and 43/44 (98%) L. iners. Presence of L. jensenii posttreatment was associated with cure (Risk Ratio (RR) 1.67; 95% CI 1.09-2.56); L. crispatus showed a similar trend (RR 1.41; 95% CI 0.89-2.24, P = 0.14). Receptive oral sex was associated with 2.2-log(10) lower concentration of L. crispatus (95% CI -4.38, -.02), and digital-vaginal sex with 2.6-log(10) lower concentration (95% CI -4.87, -.33). CONCLUSION: One month after BV treatment, few women established colonization with L. crispatus or L. jensenii. Few behaviors were associated with colonization.