The BD Affirm VPIII (Affirm) assay (Becton Dickinson, Sparks, MD) is an RNA-probe–based direct-specimen test for bacterial vaginosis/vaginitis that detects nucleic acid of Gardnerella vaginalis, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Candida species). More recently, the transcription-mediated amplification (TMA...
G. vaginalisis a Gram-variable facultative anaerobic bacterium that is commonly present in low numbers in the vaginal flora of healthy women5. The healthy vaginal epithelium is generally dominated by hydrogen peroxide and lactic acid producing lactobacilli, which acidify the vaginal environment and limi...
Traditionally, colonization of the vaginal introitus or periurethra by pathogenic gut bacteria is known to cause rUTI by retrograde infection [8,9]. Due to this gut–bladder axis etiology, the vaginal microbiome, particularlyGardnerella vaginalis, is frequently excluded as a causative agent of UTIs,...