New insights toward personalized therapies for vulvovaginal candidiasis and vaginal co-infections

Author: mycolabadmin
8/8/2025
View Source

Summary

Vaginal yeast infections (vulvovaginal candidiasis) and bacterial vaginosis are very common conditions affecting millions of women worldwide. Current treatments often fail or lead to antibiotic resistance. This review explores new personalized approaches including zinc supplementation, specific probiotics, and immune-boosting therapies that are tailored to each woman’s unique vaginal environment to prevent recurring infections.

Background

Lower genital tract infections, particularly vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and bacterial vaginosis (BV), are among the most prevalent infections in women worldwide. These conditions cause significant clinical symptoms and severely impact women’s quality of life and mental health. Despite extensive research, substantial gaps remain in understanding the vaginal immune response and the complexity of the vaginal ecosystem.

Objective

This review explores the underlying pathophysiology of VVC, BV, and fungal-bacteria co-infections, as well as conventional and emerging treatments including zinc, Lactobacillus spp., and lactic acid. The authors discuss challenges of antifungal drug resistance and propose personalized treatment approaches tailored to individual vaginal environments.

Results

The review identifies distinct pathophysiologies of VVC and BV, with VVC characterized by aberrant inflammatory response and PMN accumulation, while BV shows absence of PMN infiltration. Emerging treatments such as zinc supplementation targeting Pra1 protein show promise, and the NDV-3A vaccine demonstrates efficacy in reducing RVVC recurrence.

Conclusion

Personalized treatments tailored to individual vaginal environments are essential for maintaining eubiosis and preventing recurrent infections. Future research should prioritize modulating host and environmental factors rather than targeting pathogens alone to develop targeted therapies that prevent reinfection, minimize side effects, and improve women’s health outcomes.

Published in:Frontiers in Microbiology,
Study Type:Review,
Source: PMID: 40862146, DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1625952