Figure 3.

Individual bacterial group concentrations pre- and posttreatment

A-D, Changes in total bacterial concentrations and bacterial group concentrations before (n=66) and after metronidazole treatment (n=63). A, Total bacterial concentration, B, total lactobacilli, C, total BV-anaerobes, and D, total pathobionts (boxplot not shown because of high proportion of zero values). See Table 2 for mean concentrations and 95% confidence intervals, and statistical significance. E-H, Change in concentrations between pre- and posttreatment, expressed as a percentage for every individual participant with valid quantitative polymerase chain reaction results at both visits (n=61), for total bacterial concentration (E), total Lactobacillus (F), total BV-anaerobes (G), and total pathobionts (H). In some women, concentration went from zero to non-zero; these increases were set at 100% or the greatest increase observed among the other participants, whichever was greatest.

BV, bacterial vaginosis; conc, concentration; Post-tx, posttreatment visit; Pre-tx, pretreatment visit.

Verwijs et al. Impact of oral metronidazole treatment on the vaginal microbiota and correlates of treatment failure. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2020.