Impact of metronidazole therapy on preterm birth in women with bacterial vaginosis flora (Gardnerella vaginalis): a randomised, placebo controlled trial.

Objective: To ascertain whether metronidazole treatment of women with a heavy growth of Gardnerella vaginalis during mid-pregnancy would reduce the risk of spontaneous preterm birth.

Design: A multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled trial.

Setting: Four metropolitan hospitals.

Investigation of methods to detect mechanically recovered meat in meat products - II: Gel electrophoresis.

This study investigated the use of sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) as a method for differentiating between mechanically recovered and hand deboned meat. Twenty-nine samples of mechanically recovered meat (MRM), including some heat treated samples, were obtained. The samples were derived from several animal species and processed using different machine types and a range of processing conditions.

Changes in vaginal flora during pregnancy and association with preterm birth.

A prospective study of the vaginal flora changes between midtrimester and labor was undertaken in 560 women; 337 had intact membranes and were in labor when swabs were taken. Of these, 45 delivered preterm. Gardnerella vaginalis, Ureaplasma urealyticum (both associated with preterm birth when present in midtrimester), and Mycoplasma hominis commonly persisted between midtrimester and labor, particularly in the preterm cohort (24 [65%] of 37 midtrimester isolates), and these organisms were seldom acquired late in pregnancy.

Bacterial vaginosis in pregnancy and efficacy of short-course oral metronidazole treatment: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To characterize the natural history of bacterial vaginosis in pregnancy and to assess the efficacy of short courses of oral metronidazole therapy for long-term suppression of bacterial vaginosis flora.

Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of two 2-day courses of metronidazole (400 mg twice daily) in pregnant women with bacterial vaginosis (by Gram stain) and/or heavy growth of Gardnerella vaginalis. The first course was given at 24 weeks' gestation and a second course at 29 weeks if the follow-up vaginal swab grew G vaginalis.