Prospective cohort study of treatment outcomes of vaginal discharge syndrome in women in Windhoek, Namibia.

BACKGROUND: Syndromic treatment is the standard of care for vaginal discharge syndrome (VDS) in resource-constrained settings. However, the outcomes of VDS treatment have not been well documented. This study aimed to determine the incidence, risk factors, and microbial etiology of treatment failure in women with VDS.

METHODS: This prospective cohort study of women with VDS was conducted between September 2021 and March 2022 at Katutura Intermediate Hospital in Windhoek, Namibia. Microbiological analyses of sexually transmitted infections (STI) (Chlamydia trachomatis; Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Trichomonas vaginalis; Mycoplasma genitalium), bacterial vaginosis (BV), and vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) were performed. Treatment outcomes were assessed at 7 and 30 days after treatment, followed by microbial investigation in case of treatment failure.

RESULTS: One hundred and nine women were enrolled and 94 (86%) completed the follow-up. At baseline, 37/109 (40%) women were diagnosed with STI, 47/109 (43%) with BV and 45/109 (41%) with VVC. Candida albicans (33/45; 73%) was the main pathogen in VVC, with fluconazole resistance detected in 8/33 (24%) isolates; 10/12 (80%) of non-albicans Candida species showed resistance. The incidence of treatment failure was 3.6 per 100 person-years at 7 days and 1.0 per 100 person-years at 30 days follow-up; 17/94 (18%) women had recurrent VDS and 12/94 (13%) women had persistent VDS. VVC (OR 4.3; 95% CI 1.7-11, p = 0.002) at baseline was associated with treatment failure.

CONCLUSIONS: Treatment failure after syndromic management of VDS is common in resource-constrained settings. Access to diagnostic testing, including fungal culture and susceptibility testing, is recommended to improve outcomes.