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Cepheid
Editorial Team
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July 24, 2025
COMMUNITY AND GLOBAL HEALTH
Article
5 Ways Vaginitis Treatment Goes Wrong — And How Better Testing Can Fix It
Despite being common and treatable, vaginitis is often mismanaged. A recent study of real-world clinical practice published in Sexually Transmitted Diseases shows why fast, accurate diagnostics are essential to improving outcomes.
1. We Treat Before We Have Test Results
Empiric treatment—prescribing based on symptoms alone before test results are available—is widespread.
Among pregnant patients who received therapy for vaginitis symptoms, 36–67% were treated empirically.
2. Even the Best Tests Aren’t Always Used to Guide Care
Empiric treatment was common even when highly accurate NAAT panel results were later available. This means that many patients received therapy not based on what they actually had.
3. Co-infections Are Often Missed
Patients with multiple infections are especially at risk of incomplete or inappropriate treatment.
Among pregnant patients with both BV and VVC, 23% were treated for only one or neither of the infections.
4. Informed Treatment Works
When providers waited for test results before making treatment decisions, treatment was usually correct.
For example, 96–100% of BV-positive non-pregnant women received appropriate treatment.
Still, some patients received no treatment within a week of diagnosis, pointing to gaps in follow-up.
5. Better Point-of-Care Diagnostics Can Change the Game
Traditional methods can be slow or inaccurate. Rapid, multiplex NAATs at the point of care allow clinicians to prescribe based on real-time data, reducing guesswork and treatment delays.
The Bottom Line
Getting vaginitis treatment right starts with getting the diagnosis right—and getting it fast. Precision diagnostics can mean faster resolution of symptoms, fewer unnecessary prescriptions, and better care for women.
Looking for a simpler way to detect the 3 most common causes of vaginitis: bacterial vaginosis, candidiasis, and trichomoniasis, from a single vaginal swab? Learn about Cepheid’s Multiplex Vaginal Panel test here.
Reference
Tse J, Chen J, Shi L, Cheng MM, Lillis R, and Near AM. Prevalence and Accuracy of Empiric Treatment Among Patients with Vaginitis Symptoms in the United States. Sexually Transmitted Diseases ():10.1097/OLQ.0000000000002197, June 4, 2025. | DOI: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000002197
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