Aerobic vaginitis

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Aerobic vaginitis
Aerobic vaginitis phase contrast microscopy.jpg
Aerobic vaginitis: parabasal cells, absent lactobacilli and overgrowth of other bacilli, inflammation
Specialty Gynecology

Aerobic vaginitis (AV) is a form of vaginitis first described by Donders et al. in 2002. [1] [2] It is characterized by a more or less severe disruption of the lactobacillary flora, along with inflammation, atrophy, and the presence of a predominantly aerobic microflora, composed of enteric commensals or pathogens. [3]

Contents

It is the aerobic counterpart of bacterial vaginosis. The lack of acknowledgement of the difference between the two conditions might have led to inaccurate conclusions in several studies in the past. [4] The entity that has been described as "desquamative inflammatory vaginitis" probably corresponds to the more severe forms of aerobic vaginitis. [5]

Signs and symptoms

Women with aerobic vaginitis usually have a thinned reddish vaginal mucosa, sometimes with extensive erosions or ulcerations and abundant yellowish discharge (without the fishy amine odour, typical of bacterial vaginosis). The pH is usually high. Symptoms can include burning, stinging and dyspareunia. The symptoms can last for long periods, sometimes even years. Typically, patients have been treated several times with antimycotic and antibiotic drugs without relief. [3] In asymptomatic cases, there is microscopic evidence but no symptoms. The prevalence of asymptomatic cases is unknown. [3]

Complications

Aerobic vaginitis has been associated with several gynecological and obstetrical complications, including:

Diagnosis

A typical case of aerobic vaginitis; absence of lactobacilli, presence of para-basal epithelial cells, and pus cells. Gram-positive cocci and Gram-negative bacilli are also present. (Gram stain) Aerobic vaginitis Gram stain.jpg
A typical case of aerobic vaginitis; absence of lactobacilli, presence of para-basal epithelial cells, and pus cells. Gram-positive cocci and Gram-negative bacilli are also present. (Gram stain)

The diagnosis is based on microscopic criteria. Ideally, phase-contrast microscopy is used with a magnification of 400x (high-power field) or by Gram stain. [9] For scoring purposes, along with the relative number of leucocytes, percentage of toxic leucocytes, background flora, and proportion of epitheliocytes, lactobacillary grade must be evaluated:

grade I
numerous pleiomorphic lactobacilli; no other bacteria
grade IIa
mixed flora, but predominantly lactobacilli
grade IIb
mixed flora, but the proportion of lactobacilli severely decreased because of an increased number of other bacteria
grade III
lactobacilli severely depressed or absent because of the overgrowth of other bacteria
AV scoreLactobacillary gradesNumber of leukocytesProportion of toxic leucocytesBackground floraProportion of parabasal epitheliocytes
0I and IIa<10/hpf None or sporadicUnremarkable or cytolysis None or <1%
1IIb>10/hpf and; <10/epithelial cell <50% of leukocytesSmall coliform bacilli ≤10%
2III>10/epithelial cell>50% of leukocytesCocci or chains>10%

The "AV score" is calculated according to what is described in the table.

pH measurement alone is not enough for the diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatment is not always easy and aims at correcting the three key changes encountered in aerobic vaginitis: the presence of atrophy, inflammation and abnormal flora. The treatment can include topical steroids to diminish the inflammation and topical estrogen to reduce the atrophy. The use and choice of antibiotics to diminish the load/proportion of aerobic bacteria is still a matter of debate. The use of local antibiotics, preferably local non-absorbed and broad-spectrum, covering enteric gram-positive and gram-negative aerobes, like kanamycin, can be an option. In some cases, systemic antibiotics can be helpful, such as Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid or moxifloxacin. [10] Vaginal rinsing with povidone iodine can provide rapid relief of symptoms but does not provide long-term reduction of bacterial loads. [11] Dequalinium chloride can also be an option for treatment. [12]

Epidemiology

About 5 to 10% of women are affected by aerobic vaginitis. [13] Reports in pregnant women point to a prevalence of 8.3–10.8%. [14] [15]

When considering symptomatic women, the prevalence of AV can be as high as 23%. [16] [17] [18]

References

  1. ↑ Donders, Gilbert G.G.; Vereecken, Annie; Bosmans, Eugene; Dekeersmaecker, Alfons; Salembier, Geert; Spitz, Bernard (2002). "Definition of a type of abnormal vaginal flora that is distinct from bacterial vaginosis: aerobic vaginitis". BJOG. 109 (1): 34–43. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2002.00432.x . hdl: 10067/1033820151162165141 . PMID   11845812. S2CID   8304009.
  2. ↑ Donders, Gilbert G. G.; Bellen, Gert; Grinceviciene, Svitrigaile; Ruban, Kateryna; Vieira-Baptista, Pedro (2017-05-11). "Aerobic vaginitis: no longer a stranger". Research in Microbiology. 168 (9–10): 845–858. doi: 10.1016/j.resmic.2017.04.004 . ISSN   1769-7123. PMID   28502874.
  3. 1 2 3 Donders, G; Bellen, G; Rezeberga, D (2011). "Aerobic vaginitis in pregnancy". BJOG. 118 (10): 1163–70. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2011.03020.x . PMID   21668769. S2CID   7789770.
  4. ↑ Han, Cha; Wu, Wenjuan; Fan, Aiping; Wang, Yingmei; Zhang, Huiying; Chu, Zanjun; Wang, Chen; Xue, Fengxia (2015). "Diagnostic and therapeutic advancements for aerobic vaginitis". Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics. 291 (2): 251–7. doi:10.1007/s00404-014-3525-9. PMID   25367602. S2CID   9753771.
  5. ↑ Newbern, EC; Foxman, B; Leaman, D; Sobel, JD (2002). "Desquamative Inflammatory Vaginitis An Exploratory Case-Control Study". Annals of Epidemiology. 12 (5): 346–52. doi:10.1016/S1047-2797(01)00316-7. PMID   12062923.
  6. ↑ Donders, G. G. G.; Moerman, P.; De Wet, G. H.; Hooft, P.; Goubau, P. (1991). "The association between Chlamydia cervicitis, chorioamnionitis and neonatal complications". Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics. 249 (2): 79–85. doi:10.1007/BF02390366. PMID   1953055. S2CID   32669309.
  7. ↑ Donders, Gilbert; De Wet, Henry; Hooft, Peter; Desmyter, Jan (1993). "Lactobacilli in Papanicolaou Smears, Genital Infections, and Pregnancy". American Journal of Perinatology. 10 (5): 358–61. doi:10.1055/s-2007-994761. PMID   8240593. S2CID   32828473.
  8. ↑ Vieira-Baptista, P.; Lima-Silva, J.; Pinto, C.; Saldanha, C.; Beires, J.; Martinez-de-Oliveira, J.; Donders, G. (2016). "Bacterial vaginosis, aerobic vaginitis, vaginal inflammation and major Pap smear abnormalities". European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases. 35 (4): 657–64. doi:10.1007/s10096-016-2584-1. hdl: 10067/1332670151162165141 . PMID   26810061. S2CID   17963709.
  9. ↑ Donders, G.G.G.; Larsson, P.G.; Platz-Christensen, J.J.; Hallén, A.; van der Meijden, W.; Wölner-Hanssen, P. (2009). "Variability in diagnosis of clue cells, lactobacillary grading and white blood cells in vaginal wet smears with conventional bright light and phase contrast microscopy". European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. 145 (1): 109–12. doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2009.04.012. PMID   19481329.
  10. ↑ Wang, C.; Han, C.; Geng, N.; Fan, A.; Wang, Y.; Yue, Y.; Zhang, H.; Xue, F. (2016). "Efficacy of oral moxifloxacin for aerobic vaginitis". European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases. 35 (1): 95–101. doi:10.1007/s10096-015-2513-8. PMID   26526787. S2CID   15238909.
  11. ↑ Donders, Gilbert G. G.; Ruban, Katerina; Bellen, Gert (2015). "Selecting Anti-Microbial Treatment of Aerobic Vaginitis". Current Infectious Disease Reports. 17 (5): 477. doi:10.1007/s11908-015-0477-6. PMID   25896749. S2CID   34979527.
  12. ↑ Mendling, Werner; Weissenbacher, Ernst Rainer; Gerber, Stefan; Prasauskas, Valdas; Grob, Philipp (2016). "Use of locally delivered dequalinium chloride in the treatment of vaginal infections: a review". Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics. 293 (3): 469–84. doi:10.1007/s00404-015-3914-8. PMC   4757629 . PMID   26506926.
  13. ↑ Tansarli, G. S.; Kostaras, E. K.; Athanasiou, S.; Falagas, M. E. (2013). "Prevalence and treatment of aerobic vaginitis among non-pregnant women: evaluation of the evidence for an underestimated clinical entity". European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases. 32 (8): 977–84. doi:10.1007/s10096-013-1846-4. PMID   23443475. S2CID   14514975.
  14. ↑ Donders, GG; Van Calsteren, K; Bellen, G; Reybrouck, R; Van den Bosch, T; Riphagen, I; Van Lierde, S (2009). "Predictive value for preterm birth of abnormal vaginal flora, bacterial vaginosis and aerobic vaginitis during the first trimester of pregnancy". BJOG. 116 (10): 1315–24. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2009.02237.x . PMID   19538417. S2CID   31922934.
  15. ↑ Zodzika, Jana; Rezeberga, Dace; Jermakova, Irina; Vasina, Olga; Vedmedovska, Natalija; Donders, Gilbert (2011). "Factors related to elevated vaginal pH in the first trimester of pregnancy". Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. 90 (1): 41–6. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0412.2010.01011.x . PMID   21275914. S2CID   10508510.
  16. ↑ Fan, Aiping; Yue, Yingli; Geng, Nv; Zhang, Huiying; Wang, Yingmei; Xue, Fengxia (2013). "Aerobic vaginitis and mixed infections: comparison of clinical and laboratory findings". Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics. 287 (2): 329–35. doi:10.1007/s00404-012-2571-4. PMID   23015152. S2CID   30442929.
  17. ↑ Bologno, Romina; Díaz, Yanina M.; Giraudo, María C.; Fernández, Rosa; Menéndez, Viviana; Brizuela, Juan C.; Gallardo, Adriana A.; Álvarez, Laura A.; Estevao Belchior, Silvia G. (2011). "Importancia del estudio del balance del contenido vaginal (BACOVA) en el control preventivo de las trabajadoras sexuales" [Importance of studying the balance of vaginal content (BAVACO) in the preventive control of sex workers]. Revista Argentina de Microbiología (in Spanish). 43 (4): 246–50. doi:10.1590/S0325-75412011000400002 (inactive 11 July 2025). PMID   22274820.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link)
  18. ↑ Marconi, C.; Donders, G.G.G.; Bellen, G.; Brown, D.R.; Parada, C.M.G.L.; Silva, M.G. (2013). "Sialidase activity in aerobic vaginitis is equal to levels during bacterial vaginosis". European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. 167 (2): 205–9. doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2012.12.003. hdl: 11449/74921 . PMID   23375395.
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