Awareness and practices on adult vaccination of obstetrician-gynecologists in the Philippines / Philippine Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

BACKGROUND: Adult vaccination is necessary in the prevention of many of the most common infectious diseases because immunity from infant vaccination typically wanes in adulthood In the female population the obstetrician gynecologist is placed at the forefront of health promotion and disease prevention In 2011 the Philippine Obstetrics and Gynecology Society POGS released a Clinical Practice Guideline on Immunization for Filipino Women but no study has been done to determine its impact OBJECTIVE: This study determined the awareness and practices of OB GYN specialists on adult vaccination and their perceived hindrances to routine administration of the recommended vaccines METHODS: A self administered questionnaire was given to the POGS fellows through email phone and personal visits RESULTS: Almost all of the respondents 95 were aware of Clinical Practice Guideline on Immunization but only 4 of the OB GYNs routinely administered all the vaccines The most common vaccinne administered was Human Papilloma Virus HPV vaccine 42 7 followed by Influenza virus vaccine 28 1 and Hepatitis B vaccine 27 3 There is no significant relationship between age of the respondent the number of years in practice place of practice affiliation with a teaching hospital or subspeciality training and vaccine recommendation and administration There is a significant positive relationship between awareness of the guidelines and the frequency of recommending the Tetanus Diphtheria Pertussis Tdap vaccine and the Influenza vaccine Similarly awareness of the guidelines was related to increased frequency of administering the Human Papilloma Virus HPV vaccine and the Influenza vaccine CONCLUSION: Hence adult vaccination coverage may be promoted by increasing the awareness of the obstetrician gynecologists of the POGS Clinical Practice Guidelines on Immunization Although cost remains to be an issue identified by 93 of the respondents increasing awareness among OB GYNs on the importance of adult vaccination through the CPG on Immunization and or through attendance of the Vaccinology 101 Course through vaccinology courses may ultimately help decrease the incidence of some of the most coomon infectious diseases affecting the Filipino women and their children.

Metronidazole with Lactacyd vaginal gel in bacterial vaginosis.

AIM: To assess the efficacy and tolerability of lactic acid (Lactacyd vaginal gel; LVG) when given as an adjunct to metronidazole in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis (BV) among Filipino patients. METHODS: A multicenter, open-labeled, controlled, randomized, three-arm comparative study on 90 women aged 18 years or over with clinically and microbiologically proven BV. RESULTS: The lactobacilli colony count significantly increased over time in all three arms. At day 14, growth of lactobacilli was significantly higher among patients in the lactic acid gel and combination treatment arms. Significant reduction of malodorous vaginal discharge (whiff test) and lowest recurrence of BV were noted in the metronidazole plus lactic acid gel arm. Regarding disappearance of signs of BV, there was significant decrease in the pH level and frequency of clue cell positive patients across time but was not significantly different across treatment groups. Only one patient (3%, 1/60) among those who received lactic acid gel complained of increased curd-like discharge. Six patients (10%, 6/60) who received metronidazole complained of epigastric pain/discomfort, dizziness and dyspnea. CONCLUSIONS: Lactic acid gel (LVG) is safe and as efficacious as metronidazole in the treatment of BV. There is evidence that LVG when combined with metronidazole is superior to metronidazole alone in promoting lactobacilli colonization. LVG as an adjunct to metronidazole, having the least number of recurrent BV, appears to result in better long-term treatment effect on bacterial vaginosis.