Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36708208›Full record

ArticleFamily practice2023

Patient characteristics and factors contributing to recurrence of bacterial vaginosis presented in primary care.

Natasja S Delfstra, Annemarie A Uijen, M Caroline Vos, Reinier Akkermans, Antoine L Lagro-Janssen, Doreth A M Teunissen

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Family practice, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Natasja S DelfstraDepartment of Primary Care and Community Care, Radboud University Medical Centre, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 21, 6525 EZ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0001-6226-718X
Annemarie A UijenDepartment of Primary Care and Community Care, Radboud University Medical Centre, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 21, 6525 EZ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-7703-6250
M Caroline VosDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Elisabeth-TweeSteden Hospital, PO Box 90151, 5000 LC Tilburg, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-1612-0395
Reinier AkkermansDepartment of Primary Care and Community Care, Radboud University Medical Centre, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 21, 6525 EZ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0003-0592-4563
Antoine L Lagro-JanssenDepartment of Primary Care and Community Care, Radboud University Medical Centre, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 21, 6525 EZ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0003-2339-3743
Doreth A M TeunissenDepartment of Primary Care and Community Care, Radboud University Medical Centre, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 21, 6525 EZ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0001-8510-3890

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundBacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common problem in primary care. BV symptoms often have a negative impact on patients' quality of life and may predispose to gynaecological problems. Some patients experience recurring episodes of BV. This study's objective is to identify possible factors that may be associated with BV recurrence and describe the characteristics of these patients and interventions performed by general practitioners.

methodsIn this retrospective cohort study, we used data from a primary care registration network in the Netherlands in the period 2015-2020. We analysed differences between patients with recurrent BV and patients with a single episode of BV in terms of characteristics and interventions performed by general practitioners.

resultsWe found that patients with recently prescribed antibiotics, and a medical history of sexually transmitted infections and/or Candidiasis significantly more often presented with recurrent BV. Patients with recurrent BV had more remote consultations and less in-person consultations than single-episode patients. The reason for encounter was more often a request for medication. Regarding GPs' diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, microbiological tests were more frequently performed in recurrent BV patients. Moreover, most patients in both groups were prescribed oral metronidazole most frequently.

conclusionsOur findings might help GPs to better recognise patients at risk of recurrence. GPs could re-evaluate their approach to the diagnosis and treatment of recurrent BV, opting for in-person consultation and using standardised diagnostic criteria and microbiological testing in patients with recurrent complaints. Antibiotic use for other conditions in these patients may lead to new BV episodes.

Indexed as

Vaginosis, BacterialAnti-Bacterial AgentsFemaleHumansPrimary Health CareQuality of LifeRecurrenceRetrospective StudiesAnti-Bacterial Agentsantibioticsat-risk groupselectronic medical recordsprimary carewomen’s health/gynecology

Identifiers

PMID36708208
PMCPMC10745281

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.