PCR test bacterial vaginosis
New PCR Test Helps Treat Bacterial Vaginosis More Effectively
March 28, 2025 — A new PCR-based DNA test developed at Drexel University may change how doctors treat bacterial vaginosis (BV). This test makes it easier to choose the right antibiotic, helping patients avoid repeat infections and extra side effects.
What Is Bacterial Vaginosis?
Bacterial vaginosis is a common infection that affects about one in three women aged 14 to 49 in the U.S. It happens when the natural balance of bacteria in the vagina is disrupted. Symptoms include vaginal itching, burning during urination, unpleasant odors, and gray or green discharge. Still, around half of all cases show no symptoms at all.
Because it often goes unnoticed, BV can lead to other problems. It increases the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), pregnancy issues, and inflammation in the reproductive tract. While many cases clear up on their own, doctors usually treat it with antibiotics like metronidazole or clindamycin.
Why Current Treatments Often Fail
Many patients don’t respond to the first round of treatment. In fact, over half experience a return of symptoms. This happens because some strains of the bacteria that cause BV are resistant to metronidazole. Until now, there was no easy way to tell which antibiotic would work best for each patient.
How the New PCR Test Works
Researchers at Drexel, led by Dr. Katherine Innamorati, created a lab test that uses genetic data to identify the exact bacteria responsible for the infection. Earlier studies showed that what was once called Gardnerella vaginalis is not one species but a group of many different ones.
The team analyzed 129 bacterial genomes and found 11 unique types, grouped into several clades. Two of these groups were fully resistant to metronidazole but could still be treated with clindamycin. The test can now detect these resistant types, helping doctors avoid giving the wrong antibiotic.
Benefits of the New Test
This test can make treatment faster, safer, and more effective. “It reduces trial and error,” said Dr. Innamorati. “Patients won’t have to take unnecessary drugs that won’t work. That saves time, lowers cost, and avoids extra side effects.”
More importantly, it supports better antibiotic stewardship. That means using antibiotics more wisely to prevent resistance. Choosing the right drug from the start reduces the need for second or third rounds of treatment.
New Study Shows Partner Treatment Can Help
Another study, published this month in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that treating the male partners of women with BV could lower the chance of recurrence. In this study, both the woman and her male partner took antibiotics. The man also applied clindamycin cream topically. After 12 weeks, fewer women had BV symptoms again.
What’s Next for This Test?
The Drexel team has applied for a patent and hopes to make the test widely available. For now, a commercial lab is needed to offer it to the public. Patient interest and support could help speed things up.
The test currently identifies high-resistance strains. In the future, the team wants to improve it to detect low-resistance types as well. Researchers are also trying to discover what genes cause resistance and how it works. So far, they believe that multiple factors lead to metronidazole resistance—not just one gene.
Conclusion: A More Accurate Way to Treat BV
This new DNA test could change the way we treat bacterial vaginosis. It makes care more personal and more effective. Patients will be able to get the right treatment faster and avoid many of the problems caused by failed antibiotic use.
While it’s not yet available everywhere, the test shows great promise. More research and lab partnerships could soon bring it to clinics and hospitals around the world.
PCR test bacterial vaginosis
