Supporting research

Active BV research

Currently recruiting 

Partner Cohort Treatment Study for Bacterial vaginosis (PACT)

PACT is focused on people who identify as being in the LGBTQIA+ community. The aim of this pilot study is to determine the acceptability and feasibility of treating sexual partners of people with BV at the same time the person diagnosed with BV is receiving treatment. Couples will be provided with partner-treatment (tailored to their genitals) and will be required to complete questionnaires and self-collect samples. This trial follows the integration of partner treatment into standard clinical practice for couples where one partner has a penis, and one has a vagina. 

BV publications

Bacterial vaginosis and vulvovaginal candidiasis: sexual and contraceptive practices drive positivity and recurrent infections

Charlotte Sutton, Catriona S. Bradshaw, Erica L Plummer, Eric P. F. Chow, Christopher K. Fairley, Lenka A. Vodstrcil (2026), Sexually transmitted infections. DOI: 10.1136/sextrans-2025-056729 Advance online publication

 

Concurrent partner treatment to improve BV cure

Catriona S. Bradshaw, Lenka A. Vodstrcil (2025), Sexually transmitted infections. DOI: 10.1136/sextrans-2025-056732

 

Male partner treatment and bacterial vaginosis: implications for US clinical practice

Catriona S. Bradshaw, Lenka A. Vodstrcil, Erica L. Plummer (2025), American journal of obstetrics and gynecology. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2025.12.054. 

 

Getting everyone on board to break the cycle of BV recurrence: A qualitative study of partner treatment for bacterial vaginosis

Alicia J. King, Tiffany R. Phillips, Erica L. Plummer, Natasha Wild, Christopher K. Fairley, Eric P. F. Chow, Lenka A. Vodstrcil, Catriona S. Bradshaw (2025), The Patient. DOI: 10.1007/s40271-025-00731-z

 

Vaginal anaerobes are associated with cervicitis: A case-control study 

Erica L. Plummer, Lenka A. Vodstrcil, Jennifer A. Danielewski, Gerald L. Murray, Michelle L. Doyle, Rosie L. Latimer, Christopher K. Fairley, Eric P. F. Chow, Suzanne M. Garland, Catriona S. Bradshaw (2024), Journal of Infection. DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2024.106210

 

Prevotella and Gardnerella Are Associated With Treatment Failure Following First-line Antibiotics for Bacterial Vaginosis 

Erica L. Plummer, Amelia M. Sfameni, Lenka A. Vodstrcil, Jennifer A. Danielewski, Gerald L. Murray, Glenda Fehler, Christopher K. Fairley, Suzanne M. Garland, Eric P. F. Chow, Jane S. Hocking, Catriona S. Bradshaw (2023) Journal of Infectious Diseases. DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiad261

 

Bacterial vaginosis: drivers of recurrence and challenges and opportunities in partner treatment

Lenka A. Vodstrcil, Christina A. Muzny, Erica L. Plummer, Jack D. Sobel & Catriona S. Bradshaw (2021), BMC Medicine. DOI: 10.1186/s12916-021-02077-3

 

Does partner treatment impact on BV cure? 

Lenka A. Vodstrcil, Catriona S. Bradshaw (2021), Clinical Infectious Diseases. DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1907

 

A prospective, open-label pilot study of concurrent male partner treatment for bacterial vaginosis

Erica L. Plummer, Lenka A. Vodstrcil, Michelle L. Doyle, Jennifer A. Danielewski, Gerald L. Murray, Glenda Fehler, Christopher K. Fairley, Dieter M. Bulach,  Suzanne M. Garland, Eric P. F. Chow, Jane S. Hocking, Catriona S. Bradshaw (2021), mBio. DOI: 10.1128/mBio.02323-21

 

Sex is associated with the persistence of non-optimal vaginal microbiota following treatment for bacterial vaginosis: a prospective cohort study

Larissa K. Ratten, Erica L. Plummer, Gerald L. Murray, Jennifer A. Danielewski, Christopher K. Fairley, Suzanne M. Garland, Jane S. Hocking, Gilda Tachedjian, Eric P. F. Chow, Catriona S. Bradshaw, Lenka A. Vodstrcil (2021), BJOG: an International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology. DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.16430

 

Lactic acid-containing products for bacterial vaginosis and their impact on the vaginal microbiota: A systematic review

Erica L. Plummer, Catriona S. Bradshaw, Michelle Doyle, Christopher K. Fairley, Gerald L. Murray, Deborah Bateson, Lindi Masson, Josephine Slifirski, Gilda Tachedjian, Lenka A. Vodstrcil  (2021), PLoS One. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246953

 

Gardnerella vaginalis clade distribution is associated with behavioural practices and Nugent Score in women who have sex with women

Erica L. Plummer, Lenka A. Vodstrcil, Gerald L. Murray, Christopher K. Fairley, Jennifer A. Danielewski, Suzanne M. Garland, Eric P. F. Chow, Dieter M. Bulach, Katherine A. Fethers, Jane S. Hocking, Catriona S. Bradshaw (2020), Journal of Infectious Disease. DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiz474

 

Treating male partners of women with bacterial vaginosis (StepUp): a protocol for a randomised controlled trial to assess the clinical effectiveness of male partner treatment for reducing the risk of BV recurrence

Lenka A. Vodstrcil, Erica L. Plummer, Michelle Doyle, Christopher K. Fairley, Colette McGuiness, Deborah Bateson, Jane S. Hocking, Matthew G. Law, Kathy Petoumenos, Basil Donovan, Eric P. F. Chow, Catriona S. Bradshaw (2020), BMC Infectious Disease. DOI: 10.1186/s12879-020-05563-w

 

Combined oral contraceptive pill-exposure alone does not reduce the risk of bacterial vaginosis recurrence in a pilot randomised controlled trial

Lenka A. Vodstrcil, Erica L. Plummer, Christopher K. Fairley, Gilda Tachedjian, Matthew G. Law, Jane S. Hocking, Karen Worthington, Mieken Grant, Nita Okoko, Catriona S. Bradshaw (2019), Scientific Report. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-39879-8

 

Sexual practices have a significant impact on the vaginal microbiota of women who have sex with women

Erica L. Plummer, Lenka A. Vodstrcil, Christopher K. Fairley, Sepehr N. Tabrizi, Suzanne M. Garland, Matthew G. Law, Jane S. Hocking, Katherine A. Fethers, Dieter M. Bulach, Gerald L. Murray, Catriona S. Bradshaw (2019), Scientific Reports. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-55929-7

 

Combined oral and topical antimicrobial therapy for male partners of women with bacterial vaginosis: tolerability, acceptability and impact on the genital microbiota of couples

Erica L. Plummer, Lenka A. Vodstrcil, Jennifer A. Danielewski, Gerald L. Murray, Christopher K. Fairley, Suzanne M. Garland, Jane S. Hocking, Sepehr N. Tabrizi, Catriona S. Bradshaw (2018), PLOS ONE. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190199

 

The influence of sexual activity on the vagina microbiota and Gardnerella vaginalis clade diversity in young women

Lenka A. Vodstrcil, Jimmy Twin, Suzanne M. Garland, Christopher K. Fairley, Jane S. Hocking, Matthew G. Law, Erica L. Plummer, Katherine A. Fethers, Eric P. F. Chow, Sepehr N. Tabrizi, Catriona S. Bradshaw (2017), PLoS One. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0171856

 

The role of lactic acid production by probiotic Lactobacillus species in vaginal health

Gilda Tachedjian, Muriel Aldunate, Catriona S. Bradshaw, Richard A. Cone (2017), Research in Microbiology. DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2017.04.001

 

Molecular diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis: does adjustment for total bacterial load or human cellular content improve diagnostic performance?

Erica L. Plummer, Suzanne M. Garland, Catriona S. Bradshaw, Matthew G. Law, Lenka A. Vodstrcil, Jane S. Hocking, Christopher K. Fairley, Sepehr N. Tabrizi (2017), Journal of Microbiological Methods. DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2016.12.024

 

Women view key sexual behaviours as the trigger for the onset and recurrence of bacterial vaginosis

Jade E. Bilardi, Sandra M. Walker, Meredith J. Temple-Smith, Ruth P. McNair, Julie Mooney-Somers, Lenka A. Vodstrcil, Clare E. Bellhouse, Christopher K. Fairley, Catriona S. Bradshaw (2017), PLoS One. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0173637

 

Women's Views and Experiences of the Triggers for Onset of Bacterial Vaginosis and Exacerbating Factors Associated with Recurrence 

Jade Bilardi, Sandra Walker, Julie Mooney-Somers, Meredith Temple-Smith, Ruth McNair, Clare Bellhouse, Christopher K. Fairley, Marcus Chen, Catriona S. Bradshaw (2016), PLoS One. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150272

 

Women's Management of Recurrent Bacterial Vaginosis and Experiences of Clinical Care: A Qualitative Study 

Jade Bilardi, Sandra Walker, Ruth McNair, Julie Mooney-Somers, Meredith Temple-Smith, Clare Bellhouse, Christopher K. Fairley, Marcus Chen, Catriona S. Bradshaw (2016), PLoS One. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151794

 

Incident bacterial vaginosis (BV) in women who have sex with women is associated with behaviors that suggest sexual transmission of BV

Lenka A. Vodstrcil, Sandra M. Walker, Jane S. Hocking, Matthew Law, Dana S. Forcey, Glenda Fehler, Jade E. Bilardi, Marcus Y. Chen, Katherine A. Fethers, Christopher K. Fairley, Catriona S. Bradshaw (2015), Clinical Infectious Diseases. DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciu1130

 

Making inroads into improving treatment of bacterial vaginosis - striving for long-term cure 

Catriona S. Bradshaw, Rebecca M. Brotman (2015), BMC Infectious Diseases . DOI: 10.1186/s12879-015-1027-4

 

The influence of behaviours and relationships on the vaginal microbiota of women and their female partners: The WOW Health Study

Catriona S. Bradshaw, Sandra M. Walker, Lenka A. Vodstrcil, Jade E. Bilardi, Matthew Law, Jane S. Hocking, Katherine A. Fethers, Glenda Fehler, Susan Petersen, Sepehr N. Tabrizi, Marcus Y. Chen, Suzanne M. Garland, Christopher K. Fairley (2014), Journal of Infectious Diseases. DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jit664

 

Hormonal contraception is associated with a reduced risk of bacterial vaginosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis 

Lenka A. Vodstrcil, Jane S. Hocking, Matthew Law, Sandra Walker, Sepehr N. Tabrizi, Christopher K. Fairley, Catriona S. Bradshaw (2013), PLoS One. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0073055 

 

The potential of metatranscriptomics for identifying screening targets for bacterial vaginosis

Jimmy Twin, Catriona S. Bradshaw, Suzanne M. Garland, Christopher K. Fairley, Katherine Fethers, Sepehr N. Tabrizi (2013), PLoS On. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0076892

 

Prevalent and incident bacterial vaginosis are associated with sexual and contraceptive behaviours in young Australian women

Catriona S. Bradshaw, Jennifer Walker, Christopher K. Fairley, Marcus Y. Chen, Sepehr N. Tabrizi, Basil Donovan, John M. Kaldor, Kathryn McNamee, Eve Urban, Sandra Walker, Marian Currie, Hudson Birden, Francis Bowden, Suzanne Garland, Marie Pirotta, Lyle Gurrin, Jane S. Hocking (2013), PLoS One. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0057688

 

Recurrence of bacterial vaginosis is significantly associated with post treatment sexual activities and hormonal contraceptive use 

Catriona S. Bradshaw, Lenka A. Vodstrcil, Jane S. Hocking, Matthew Law, Marie Pirotta, Suzanne M. Garland, Deborah De Guingand, Anna N. Morton, Christopher K. Fairley (2013), Clinical Infectious Diseases. DOI: 10.1093/cid/cis1030 

 

The burden of bacterial vaginosis: women’s experience of the physical, emotional, sexual and social impact of living with recurrent bacterial vaginosis

Jade E. Bilardi, Sandra Walker, Meredith Temple-Smith, Ruth McNair, Julie Mooney-Somers, Clare Bellhouse, Christopher K. Fairley, Marcus Y. Chen, Catriona S. Bradshaw (2013), PLoS One. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0074378

 

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) candidate bacteria: associations with BV and behavioural practices in sexually-experienced and inexperienced women

Katherine Fethers, Jimmy Twin, Christopher K. Fairley, Freya J. I. Fowkes, Suzanne M. Garland, Glenda Fehler, Anna M. Morton, Jane S. Hocking, Sepehr N. Tabrizi, Catriona S. Bradshaw (2012), PLoS One. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0030633

 

Efficacy of oral metronidazole with vaginal clindamycin or vaginal probiotic for bacterial vaginosis: randomized placebo-controlled double-blind trial

Catriona S. Bradshaw, Marie Pirotta, Deborah De Guingand, Jane S. Hocking, Anna N. Morton, Suzanne M. Garland, Glenda Fehler, Andrea Morrow, Sandra Walker, Lenka A. Vodstrcil, Christopher K. Fairley (2012), PLoS One. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0034540

 

Low Incidence of bacterial vaginosis in cohort of young Australian women

Katherine A. Fethers, Christopher K. Fairley, Anna Morton, Jane S. Hocking, Glenda Fehler, Lisa J. Kennedy, Catriona S. Bradshaw (2011), Sexually Transmitted Diseases. DOI: 10.1097/OLQ.0b013e3181f0bc37

 

Early sexual experiences and risk factors for bacterial vaginosis 

Katherine A. Fethers, Christopher K. Fairley, Anna Morton, Jane S. Hocking, Carol Hopkins, Lisa J Kennedy, Glenda Fehler, Catriona S. Bradshaw (2009), Journal of Infectious Diseases. DOI: 10.1086/648092  

 

Sexual risk factors and bacterial vaginosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis 

Katherine A. Fethers, Christopher K. Fairley, Jane S. Hocking, Lyle C. Gurrin, Catriona S. Bradshaw (2008), Clinical Infectious Diseases. DOI: 10.1086/592974 

 

The association of Atopobium vaginae and Gardnerella vaginalis with bacterial vaginosis and recurrence after oral metronidazole therapy 

Catriona S. Bradshaw, Sepehr N. Tabrizi, Christopher K. Fairley, Anna Morton, Elice Rudland, Suzanne M. Garland (2006), Journal of Infectious Diseases. DOI: 10.1086/506621 

 

High recurrence rates of bacterial vaginosis over the course of 12 months after oral metronidazole therapy and factors associated with recurrence 

Catriona S. Bradshaw, Anna N. Morton, Jane Hocking, Suzanne M. Garland, Margaret B. Morris, Lorna M. Moss, Leonie B. Horvath, Irene Kuzevska, Christopher K. Fairley (2006), Journal of Infectious Diseases. DOI: 10.1086/503780 

 

Evaluation of a point-of-care test, BVBlue, and clinical and laboratory criteria for diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis 

Catriona S. Bradshaw, Anna N. Morton, Suzanne M. Garland, Leonie B. Horvath, Irene Kuzevska, Christopher K. Fairley (2005), Journal of Clinical Microbiology. DOI: 10.1128/JCM.43.3.1304-1308.2005 

 

Higher-risk behavioral practices associated with bacterial vaginosis compared with vaginal candidiasis 

Catriona S. Bradshaw, Anna N. Morton, Suzanne M. Garland, Margaret B. Morris, Lorna M. Moss, Christopher K. Fairley (2005), Obstetrics & Gynecology. DOI: 10.1097/01.AOG.0000163247.78533.7b