Extra-vaginal Bacterial Colonization and Risk for Incident Bacterial Vaginosis in a Population of Women who Have Sex with Men.

: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common cause of vaginal discharge and associated with vaginal acquisition of BV-associated bacteria (BVAB). We used quantitative PCR assays to determine if presence or concentrations of BVAB in the mouth, anus, vagina, or labia prior to BV predict risk of incident BV in 72 women who have sex with men. Baseline vaginal and extra-vaginal colonization with Gardnerella spp., Megasphaera spp., Sneathia spp., BVAB-2, Dialister sp. type 2. and other BVAB was more common among subjects with incident BV. Prior colonization with BVAB is a consistent risk for BV.