Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common condition in women which causes a discharge from the vagina, often with an unpleasant fishy smell. This is embarrassing and often distressing. It is also associated with developing more generalised pelvic infection, the occurrence of complications in pregnancy (including miscarriage and premature delivery) and an increased risk of catching and passing on HIV. It affects 30-50% of women at some time in their lives. Currently an antibiotic called metronidazole is used to treat BV, but often BV comes back again in about a third of women, who then require repeated courses of antibiotic treatment. Antibiotics can also have unwanted side effects and antibiotic resistance can develop if they are used too often. The exact cause of BV is not known but it is associated with a change in the type of bacteria in the vagina, specifically a reduction in ‘lactobacilli’ and an increase in ‘anaerobic bacteria’. Normally, lactobacilli make lactic acid in the vagina, which prevents the growth of anaerobic bacteria. However, in women with BV (where the numbers of lactobacilli have decreased) the vagina is less acid than usual. As a result, the increased number of anaerobic bacteria in the vagina produce various chemicals which cause inflammation and an unpleasant smell. The aim of this study is to see if using an alternative treatment known as lactic acid gel may be effective in treating BV by ‘replacing’ vaginal acidity in the vagina. Some previous studies have suggested that this approach could be successful but they are not conclusive and current guidelines highlight a need for more information before recommending the use of intravaginal lactic acid gel.
Who can participate?
Women aged 16 or above with symptoms of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and a history of one or more episodes of BV within the previous 2 years which resolved with treatment
What does the study involve?
At their single clinic visit, participants are asked to provide samples for analysis of BV and are then randomly allocated to receive treatment with either intravaginal lactic acid gel used once daily for 7 days (intervention group) or oral metronidazole tablets twice daily for 7 days (control group). Following the initial visit, participants are then followed up for resolution of their symptoms 2 weeks, 3 months and 6 months later with online questionnaires and self-sampling kits, completed at home.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There are no direct benefits for the participant of taking part in the study. However, the information from this study will help to determine whether topical lactic acid gel is an effective and well tolerated treatment for BV. This study will help to advance understanding and could lead to changes to the current guidelines for recommended BV treatments. Although there is some evidence to suggest that lactic acid gel may be effective in treating BV, we do not know whether it works as well as metronidazole. If it doesn’t you may have to have further treatment. As with all medications there is a small risk of side effects, the GP or Nurse will be able to explain these.
Where is the study run from?
Nottingham Clinical Trials Unit (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
March 2017 to June 2020 (updated 18/02/2020, previously: November 2019)
Who is funding the study?
Health Technology Assessment Programme (UK)
Who is the main contact?
VITA Trial Team
vita@nottingham.ac.uk
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Dr Lindsay Armstrong-Buisseret
ORCID ID
Contact details
Nottingham Clinical Trials Unit
University of Nottingham
Queens Medical Centre
Nottingham
NG7 2RD
United Kingdom
+44 115 823 1610
vita@nottingham.ac.uk
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
2016-004483-19
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
33038
Study information
Scientific title
Metronidazole Versus lactic acId for Treating bacterial vAginosis: A randomised controlled trial to assess the clinical and cost effectiveness of topical lactic acid gel for treating second and subsequent episodes of bacterial vaginosis
Acronym
VITA
Study hypothesis
The aim of this trial is to determine if using lactic acid gel in the vagina to ‘replace’ vaginal acidity is better than oral metronidazole for symptomatic resolution of recurrent bacterial vaginosis (BV). Some previous studies have suggested that this approach could be successful but they are not conclusive and current guidelines highlight a need for more evidence before recommending the use of intravaginal lactic acid gel. In parallel, the tolerability and acceptability of using lactic acid gel and metronidazole as treatments for BV will be assessed.
Ethics approval
London Harrow Research Ethics Committee, 09/09/2017, ref: 17/LO/1245
Study design
Randomised; Interventional; Design type: Treatment, Drug, Device
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Hospitals
Trial type
Treatment
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Bacterial vaginosis (BV)
Intervention
At their single clinic visit, participants are asked to provide initial samples for analysis of BV and will then will be randomised to receive either:
1. Intravaginal lactic acid gel used once daily for 7 days (Intervention)
2. Oral metronidazole tablets, 400mg twice daily for 7 days (control)
Participants are randomised using a remote internet based randomisation system that is developed and maintained by the Nottingham Clinical Trials Unit (NCTU).
Oral metronidazole is currently recommended as first line therapy in the UK national BV treatment guidelines and will be used within its licensed indication. Intravaginal lactic acid gel is a CE-marked medical device, which will be used within its intended purpose. Therefore, the study is classed as a clinical trial of an investigational medicinal product (CTIMP), where oral metronidazole is considered investigational medicinal product (IMP) for the purposes of the trial.
Following the initial visit, participants will then be followed up for resolution of their symptoms 2 weeks, 3 months and 6 months later via participant completed web-based questionnaires and self-sampling kits, completed at home.
Intervention type
Drug
Phase
Phase III
Drug names
Metronidazole, lactic acid gel
Primary outcome measure
Resolution of bacterial vaginosis based on participant reported resolution of symptoms at week 2 (14 days from randomisation).
Secondary outcome measures
1. Time to first recurrence of BV is measured using patient reported questionnaires over 6 months
2. Number of participant reported BV episodes is measured using patient reported questionnaires over 6 months
3. Number of participant reported BV treatment courses is measured using patient reported questionnaires over 6 months
4. Microbiological resolution of BV is measured using microscopy of vaginal smears at week 2
5. Comparative tolerability of lactic acid gel and metronidazole assessed by participant reporting of side effects (including nausea, vomiting, taste disturbance, vaginal irritation, diarrhoea and abdominal pain) using patient reported questionnaire at 2 weeks and via participant interviews post intervention
6. Participant reported adherence to treatment is measured using participants reports at 2 weeks
7. Acceptability of treatments via qualitative assessment in a subgroup of participants post intervention
8. Prevalence of concurrent sexually transmitted infections (gonorrhoea, chlamydia and trichomoniasis) at baseline and at week 2
9. Quality of life is assessed by SF-12 questionnaire at baseline, 2 weeks and 6 months
10. Comparative cost effectiveness measured via NHS Service use questionnaire at week 2, 3 and 6 months
Overall trial start date
01/03/2017
Overall trial end date
28/06/2020
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Age 16 years or over
2. Clinical diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis – based on patient reported symptoms of discharge with an unpleasant (typically fishy) odour (with or without positive microscopy according to local site practice)
3. History of at least one previous episode of bacterial vaginosis within the past two years (clinically diagnosed or patient reported) which resolved with treatment
4. Willing to use either intravaginal lactic acid gel or oral tablets for the management of BV
5. Willing to take their own vaginal samples
6. Willing to avoid vaginal douching during treatment
7. Willing to provide contact details and be contacted for the purpose of collecting follow-up information
8. Willing to avoid sexual intercourse or use effective contraception for the 7-day duration of study treatment (condoms are not considered to be effective contraception due to a potential interaction with lactic acid gel)
9. Access to the internet, email and willing to complete web based follow up questionnaires in English
10. Written informed consent
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Female
Target number of participants
Planned Sample Size: 1,900; UK Sample Size: 1,900
Total final enrolment
518
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Contra-indications or allergy to lactic acid gel or metronidazole tablets
2. Pregnant or breastfeeding
3. Patients currently trying to conceive and not willing to avoid sexual intercourse or use effective contraception for the 7-day duration of study treatment
4. Use of oral antibiotics (other than the study treatment) or antifungal agents; concurrently, within the last 2 weeks or planned use within the next 2 weeks
5. Use of topical vaginal antibiotics, antifungals or acidifying products (other than the study treatment) concurrently, within the last 2 weeks, or planned use within the next 2 weeks
6. Previous participation in this study
7. Current participation in another clinical trial involving an investigational medicinal product
Recruitment start date
25/09/2017
Recruitment end date
28/06/2019
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Nottingham Clinical Trials Unit (Coordinating Centre)
The University of Nottingham
Nottingham Health Science Partners
South Block, Queen’s Medical Centre
Nottingham
NG7 2UH
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
Organisation
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
Sponsor details
Research and Development (Governance)
1st Floor
Institute of Translational Medicine (ITM)
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
Heritage Building
Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Mindelsohn Way
Birmingham
B15 2TH
United Kingdom
+44 (0)121 371 8006
Deborah.Popoola@uhb.nhs.uk
Sponsor type
Hospital/treatment centre
Website
Funders
Funder type
Government
Funder name
National Institute for Health Research
Alternative name(s)
NIHR
Funding Body Type
government organisation
Funding Body Subtype
National government
Location
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Planned publication in a high-impact peer reviewed journal.
IPD sharing statement:
The data sharing plans for the current study are unknown and will be made available at a later date.
Intention to publish date
28/06/2021
Participant level data
To be made available at a later date
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list
2019 protocol in https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31775859 (added 02/12/2019)