Reducing Vaginal Infections in Women

The purpose of this study is to see if taking medication once a month can help to decrease the risk of vaginal infections. Additionally, researchers will study whether personal habits, such as douching, bathing, and sexual practices can influence the risk of vaginal infections. Vaginal infections may influence the risk of becoming infected with HIV-1 and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Study participants will include 400 female prostitutes ages 16 and older, living in Mombasa. Study procedures will include sexual behavior questions, physical examinations including pelvic exams, testing of vaginal and cervical secretions for STDs, urine collection and blood samples. Participants will receive 2 different types of pills to treat vaginal infections (metronidazole or fluconazole) or placebo (contains no medication). Participants will be involved in study related procedures for 1 year and will return to the study clinic at one month intervals.

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Key information

Conditions

Bacterial Diseases Bacterial Infections Bacterial Infections and Mycoses Communicable Diseases Disease Attributes Genital Diseases Infections Other Mycoses Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Sexually Transmitted Diseases Sexually Transmitted Infection Urogenital Diseases

Age range

16 year and older

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 3

Primary location

Ganjoni Municipal Communicable Diseases Control Centre

Mombasa, Kenya

About this study

Prospective studies in Africa have demonstrated that vaginal infections are associated with a significant increase in a woman's risk of infection with HIV-1. Further clinical and epidemiological research is needed to evaluate strategies for prevention and treatment of vaginal infections as a means of reducing HIV-1 acquisition. Developing a vaginal health intervention to reduce the risk of HIV-1 infection is a particularly important goal in sub-Saharan Africa, where female controlled strategies for reducing the risk of HIV-1 transmission may be an important means of decreasing the spread of the epidemic. This study will evaluate the efficacy of a regimen for reducing the rate of vaginal infections. The study is a double blind, randomized, controlled trial of monthly treatment with single-dose metronidazole and fluconazole as a means of decreasing vaginal infections and promoting normal vaginal flora in HIV-1 seronegative female sex workers (FSWs) in Mombasa, Kenya. Participants will be recruited from an existing cohort of HIV-1 seronegative FSWs followed at a municipal sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic in Mombassa, Kenya, since February 1993. Participants will be randomized to treatment with metronidazole 2 grams plus fluconazole 150 mg once a month or placebo. All patients will be asked to return for follow-up after 1 month. All women in the study will be treated as indicated for symptomatic vaginal infections, other genital track infections and followed until they have completed 12 monthly follow-up visits.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Women who do not currently have symptoms of vaginal itching or discharge. Women with these symptoms may be treated and enrolled at a subsequent monthly visit when they are asymptomatic.
Those who are currently menstruating may be enrolled after the completion of menses.

Exclusion criteria

Pregnancy
Lactation
History of adverse reactions to the study medications
Alcoholism or inability to abstain from alcohol for 48 hours following treatment
Women who do not anticipate living in Mombasa for a year following enrollment.

Treatment and study plan

Fluconazole

Drug

Metronizadole

Drug

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Washington

Other

Collaborators

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Registry information

Official study title

Reducing Vaginal Infections in Women at Risk for HIV-1

Important dates

Study start: 2003
Primary completion: 2006
Study completion: 2006
First posted: Sep 15, 2005
Registry last updated: Mar 18, 2010

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed