Family Nurse Practitioner Exam

In the case of bacterial vaginosis, what is the recommended treatment for a patient's sexual partner?

1. Ceftriaxone and Doxycycline

2. Metronidazole for 7 days with Azithromycin

3. Her partner does not need treatment

4. Clotrimazole cream for the male partner

The correct answer is: Her partner does not need treatment

In the case of bacterial vaginosis, the recommended approach regarding the treatment of the patient's sexual partner is that her partner does not need treatment. This is because bacterial vaginosis is primarily an imbalance of the normal bacterial flora in the vagina rather than a sexually transmitted infection. The condition does not require treatment for partners, which aligns with current clinical guidelines. For individuals diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis, the focus is typically on treating the individual with antibiotics, such as metronidazole or clindamycin, to restore the normal vaginal flora and alleviate symptoms. Since the condition does not arise from a pathogen that can be spread or transmitted between sexual partners, routine treatment of partners is unnecessary and not supported by evidence. This principle helps prevent unnecessary medication use and reinforces that bacterial vaginosis is not classified the same way as infections like chlamydia or gonorrhea, which do warrant treatment of partners.