Gardnerella vaginalis is a predominant anaerobic bacterium that is a natural component of the normal vaginal flora. Gardnerella was named after Hermann L. Gardner, the scientist who discovered the bacterium in 1955. Normally, the Lactobacillus species predominates the vaginal flora. However, when organisms such as Gardnerella overgrow and assume dominance, this imbalance results in bacterial vaginosis (BV).
BV is a condition that causes abnormal vaginal discharge and involves a polymicrobial overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria within the vaginal environment. BV is associated with infertility, preterm birth, postpartum endometritis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and an increased risk of acquiring human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
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