Dequalinium chloride use in adult Spanish women with bacterial vaginosis: an observational study

Abstract

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) represents the most frequent vaginal infection in women of childbearing age. The aim of this study was to characterise episodes of BV among adult Spanish women and their management with dequalinium chloride (DQC). Data from 573 DQC-treated BV adult women was obtained on medical records and questionnaires. The study shows that 20.6% had presented vaginal infections previously. Comorbid candidosis was significantly associated to other symptoms, such as pruritus or leucorrhoea. Most patients (64.3%) indicated a moderate-strong impact of the BV episode on their sexual life. After treatment, 84.8% of patients reported no BV symptoms. Patients were given instructions to prevent relapses. Most patients (83.1%) rated DQC as ‘satisfactory’ or ‘very/extremely satisfactory’ regarding symptom relief, prevention or treatment of the episode of BV. In conclusion, this study provides a better understanding of BV episodes and the impact of the treatment with DQC in real clinical practice in Spanish patients.

IMPACT STATEMENT

• What is already known on this subject? Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most commonly reported vaginal infection among women of childbearing age. Despite the availability of antibiotic medications for the treatment of BV, management of this condition remains challenging. In fact, recurrence of BV has been reported for up to 50% of cases. However, antiseptic agents are considered an effective option for BV treatment.

• What the results of this study add? The study provides a better understanding of the prevalent symptomatology and the impact on quality of life of women with BV. Moreover, it has been observed that antiseptic dequalinium chloride (DQC) efficiently reduces symptoms and improves quality of life of the patients during episodes of BV.

• What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? In the context of the World Health Organisation recommendations on the rational use of antibiotics, we believe that the use of DQC may be a good alternative to antibiotics as a therapy for BV.

Keywords:

• Bacterial vaginosis
• vaginal infection
• dequalinium chloride
• real clinical practice
• daily life impact

Acknowledgements

We thank Clever Instruments SL, an independent clinical research organization, for their contribution in study initiation, data management and statistical analysis. The authors also thank Francisco López de Saro (Trialance SCCL) for medical writing support.

We thank the participants in the EVBA study group, listed here in alphabetical order:

Dr José Luis Abollado Fernández (Centro de Especialidades Azuqueca de Henares, Guadalajara), Dr Nasser Abou-hons Makarem (CAP Sant Andreu, Barcelona), Dr Antonio Adiego Sancho (Nuestra Señora de Gracia, Zaragoza), Dr Jordi Antoni Vives (Hospital Parc Tauli, Clínica Teknogin, Barcelona), Dr Juan Antonio Azcona (Toscas Atenció a la Salut Sexual i Reproductiva 8 de Marzo, Barcelona), Dra Laura Baños Cándenas (Hospital Quirón Málaga, Málaga), Dr Guillermo Beltrán Martínez (Centro de Especialidades San Vicente, Alicante), Dr Thays Bermúdez Marín (CAP Montclar-Sant Boi, Barcelona), Dr José Sergio Bernabeu Pérez (Centro de Especialidades Elda, Alicante), Dra María Dolores Bernal Muñoz (Hospital Materno Infantil Virgen del Rocío, Sevilla), Dr Francisco Ramón Blanco Coronado (Hospital Mérida, Badajoz), Dra Elena Borrajo Hernández (Complejo Hospitalario de Ourense, Ourense), Dr Benito Cabeza Garrote (Ambulatorio Ibi, Alicante), Dr Luciano Carmelo Cacciopoli (CAP Manso, Barcelona), Dr Jordi Carrera Viñals (CAP Adrià, Barcelona), Dra Gemma Castillo Grima (CAP Drassanes, Barcelona), Dra Patricia Ceballos del Fresno (Hospital Santa Bárbara de Puertollano, Ciudad Real), Dra Rosa Clavera Fernández (CAP Vallés, Barcelona), Dra Nieves María Climent Martínez (Hospital Universitario LA FUNDACION, Madrid), Dra Yolanda Cuñarro López (Centro de Especialidades Moratalaz, Madrid), Dr Román Curiel Rodado (Hospital Sanitas La Moraleja, Madrid), Dra Marta de Soto Cardenal (Hospital Virgen del Puerto Plasencia, Cáceres), Dra Pilar del Tiempo Marques (Hospital Miguel Servet, Zaragoza), Dra Beatriz Díaz Toledo (Hospital Severo Ochoa Leganés, Madrid), Dr Álvaro Díez Álvarez (Villaverde, Madrid), Dr Carlos Elorriaga Azpilicueta (Centro de Especialidades Inocencio Jiménez, Zaragoza), Dra Raquel Escudero Rivas (Centro Periférico de Especialidades Zaidín, Granada), Dra María Teresa Falip Cabaner (CAP Doctora Torrasa, Barcelona), Dra María Cruz Fidalgo Rodríguez (Ambulatorio La Lila, Asturias), Dr Santiago Fresno Alba (Hospital Coria, Cáceres), Dra Mónica García Barrios (Hospital Universitario LA FUNDACION, Madrid), Dra Cristina García Casals (Ventorrillo, A Coruña), Dra Beatriz García Chapinal (Carabanchel, Madrid), Dra María Antonia García-largo Seseña (Hospital General Virgen de La Salud de Toledo, Toledo), Dra Marta Gómez Iglesias (Indautxu-Bermeo-Santuchu, Bilbao) Dra Ana Gómez Laencina (Hospital Reina Sofía, Murcia), Dr Rafael Carlos Gómez de Hita (Hospital Reina Sofía, Córdoba), Dra Laura González Fernández (Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Asturias), Dra Cristina González Benítez (Hospital la Paz y Centro de Especialidades José Marvá, Madrid), Dra Nuria Hernández Jerez (Privada Santa Cruz Tenerife, Tenerife), Dr Jesús Graciliano Hernández Acosta (Centro de Especialidades El Mojón, Tenerife), Dra María Eugenia Jiménez Piñanes (Ambulatorio Especialidades Doctor Fleming, Sevilla), Dr Agustín Lloret Blanco (Ambulatorio Benidorm, Alicante), Dr Ignacio Lobo Lafuente (CE Basurto, Bizkaia), Dr Jorge López Olmos (Monteolivete, Valencia), Dra Patricia Marín Segura (Hospital Nissa Aljarafe, Sevilla), Dra Miriam Miguel Celis (Consulta Privada, Murcia), Dra Isabel Moreno Urueña (CE Ramón y Cajal, Zaragoza), Dra Ana Muñoz Ledesma (Hospital Rio Hortega de Valladolid, Valladolid), Dra Dominica Nieto Bragado (Hospital Clínico de Valladolid, Valladolid), Dra Jesica Nogueira García (Centro de salud Burriana, Castellón de la Plana), Dr Eusebio Novo Vargas (CAE Tome Cano, Tenerife), Dra María Caridad Ortiz Herrera (Centro Alta Resolución Benalmadena, Málaga), Dra Ana Pereda Rios (Ventorrillo, Privada Coruña y Lugo, A Coruña), Dr José Pérez Garcilaso (Trinitat, Valencia), Dra Ana Pérez Llamas (Hospital de León, León), Dr David Pintado Vera (Clínica San Miguel, Pamplona), Dra Carmen Quiles López-Cantarero (Hospital de Poniente El Ejido Almería, Hospital del Toyo, Almería), Dra María Isabel Quiros Molina (Hospital Quirón Marbella, Málaga), Dra Margarita Riera Blasco (CAP Ronda Torrasa, Barcelona), Dr Roberto Rodríguez Núñez (Complejo Hospitalario de Ourense, Ourense), Dra Mercedes Rodríguez Fernández (Hospital Quirón Avenida de las Ciencias, Sevilla), Dra Raquel Rodríguez García (Hospital punta Europa-Algeciras, Cádiz), Dra Neus Roig Casaban (Hospital de Manises, Valencia), Dra Lourdes Roldan Gutiérrez (Centro de Especialidades Prudencio Guzmán, Las Palmas Gran Canaria), Dra Raquel Romero Carmona (Hospital de Jerez, Jerez), Dra María Carlota Ruesta Teran (Hospital Sanitas la Zarzuela, Madrid), Dr Blas Ruperez Pérez (CAP Justo Oliveras, Barcelona), Dra Patricia Sala Sola (Roger de Flor, Barcelona), Dra María Carmen Salas Robles (Hospiten Estepona, Málaga), Dra Inmaculada Salvador Vila (Centro de salud Moncada/Burjasot, Valencia), Dr Luis San Juan Rodríguez (Puerto Sagunto, Valencia), Dra María del Mar Sánchez Gila (Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves Granada, Granada), Dra Rocío Sánchez Ruiz (Clínica Inmaculada, Granada), Dra Cristina Sánchez Rojo (Gómez Ulla, Madrid), Dra Ana Señaris López (Hospital Clínico Universitario Santiago y consulta privada, Santiago de Compostela), Dra Marina Solsona Caba (Atenció a la Salut Sexual i Reproductiva Roger de Flor y Atenció a la Salut Sexual i Reproductiva Pare Claret, Barcelona), Dr Jaume Tarazona Teixidó (Hospital Arnau de Vilanova, Lleida), Dra Esther Tello Jiménez (Hospital General Nuestra Señora del Prado de Talavera de la Reina, Toledo), Dr Luis Antonio Vázquez Illanes (Hospital Universitario Lucus Augusti de Lugo, Lugo), Dra Marina Vilardell Estela (Atenció a la Salut Sexual i Reproductiva Roger de Flor y Atenció a la Salut Sexual i Reproductiva Pare Claret, Barcelona), Dra Amparo Villasante Moran (Centro de Especialidades Indautxu, Bilbao), Dr Mirruan Yordi Yordi (Clínica Belén, Madrid).

Disclosure statement

JAV and MJC declare no conflicts of interest related to this study but have received consulting fees from Gedeon Richter Ibérica SA in the past. MAL and AD are employees of Gedeon Richter Ibérica SA. This study was sponsored by Gedeon Richter Ibérica SA.