Active BV research
Currently recruiting
PACT is focused on people who identify as being in the LGBTQIA+ community. The aim of this study is to determine the acceptability of treating sexual partners of people with BV at the same time the person with BV is receiving treatment. Couples will be randomised across two treatment groups; monotherapy or combination therapy. 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
Male-partner treatment to prevent recurrence of bacterial vaginosis
Lenka A. Vodstrcil, Erica L. Plummer, Christopher K. Fairley, Jane S. Hocking, Matthew G. Law, Kathy Petoumenos, Deborah Bateson, Gerald L. Murray, Basil Donovan, Eric P. F. Chow, Marcus Y. Chen, John Kaldor, Catriona S. Bradshaw
(2025), The New England Journal of Medicine
Research summary: nejmoa2405404_research-summary.pdf
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 in press), The Patient
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
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34470644/
Does partner treatment impact on BV cure?
Lenka A Vodstrcil, Catriona S Bradshaw
(2021), Clinical Infectious Diseases
DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1907.
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33411901/
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
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34663095/
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 Diseases
DOI: 10.1186/s12879-020-05563-w
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33176727/
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
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: 10.1056/NEJMoa2405404
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38944285/
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.
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37427495/
Sex is associated with the persistence of non-optimal vaginal microbiota following treatment for bacterial vaginosis: a prospective cohort study
Ratten LK, Plummer EL, Murray GL, Danielewski J, Fairley CK, Garland SM, Hocking JS, Tachedjian G, Chow EPF, Bradshaw CS, Vodstrcil L
(2021), BJOG: an International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33480468/
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.
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33571286/
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 Diseases
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31544206/
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 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
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30837554/
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
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31874964/
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
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28234976/
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
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28435139/
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
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28042056/
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
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28278277/
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 Fairley, Marcus Chen, Catriona Bradshaw
(2016), PLoS One
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150272
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26930414/
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 Fairley, Marcus Chen, Catriona Bradshaw
(2016), PLoS One
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151794
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27010725/
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
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25516188/
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
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26219949/
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
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24285846/
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
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24023807/
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 One
DOI: org/10.1371/journal.pone.0076892
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24086764/
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
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23472099/
Recurrence of bacterial vaginosis is significantly associated with posttreatment 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
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23243173/
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 Bradshaw
(2013), PLoS One
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0074378
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24040236/
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
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22363457/
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
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22509319/
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
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20739909/
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
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19863439/
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
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18947329/
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, Rudland E, Suzanne M Garland,
(2006), Journal of Infectious Diseases
DOI: 10.1086/506621
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16941351/
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
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16652274/
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
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15750100/
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
BV research team
Natasha Wild (Dyson)
Maggie Vandeleur
Laura Grimminck Matthews
Photo of Dr Erica Plummer (left), Professor Catriona Bradshaw (centre) and Dr Lenka Vodstrcil (right)