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Photo by Daniel H. Tong on Unsplash
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Gynuity and CDC to Launch Pilot Study on Clostridial Species

In collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Gynuity is studying the epidemiology of the Clostridial species, sordellii and perfringens, among women of reproductive age. Since 2001, these bacteria have caused pelvic infections resulting in the deaths of 13 previously healthy women in the United States. In January 2009, we will launch a pilot study of 1,000 women, recruited from three clinical sites, in Los Angeles, San Diego and Vancouver, Washington. The first arm of the pilot study will sample women of reproductive age for vaginal and rectal carriage of C. sordellii and perfringens. The second will examine changes in women’s carriage of the bacteria before and after undergoing abortion. Women participating in either arm of the study will be surveyed about their medical history and sexual behaviors. It is anticipated that this study will last three to four months, and will help in the planning of an expanded, large-scale epidemiologic survey, recruiting an additional 9,000 women in 23 clinical sites across the United States.