{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,10]],"date-time":"2026-02-10T20:52:48Z","timestamp":1770756768059,"version":"3.50.0"},"reference-count":18,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,10]],"date-time":"2026-02-10T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1770681600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JCM"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Objective: To evaluate the clinical and microbiological effects of antimicrobial underwear as an adjunct to standard treatment in women with acute vaginitis. Methods: Sixty reproductive-age women with acute vaginitis received a 7-day intravaginal regimen of metronidazole and miconazole. Participants were assigned either to a group wearing antimicrobial underwear or to a control group wearing non-antimicrobial underwear. Vaginal symptoms and culture results were assessed before and after treatment. Results: The antimicrobial-underwear group showed significant improvement in vaginal symptoms, including discharge (96.7%\u21926.9% vs. 72.5%\u219227.5%; p &lt; 0.001), pruritus (37.5% vs. 68.4%; p = 0.044), odor (19.6% vs. 53.8%; p = 0.016), and irritation (36.4% vs. 75%; p = 0.013). Dyspareunia was similar between groups. While no microbiological change was observed in controls (p = 0.950), negative cultures increased from 40% to 80% in the antimicrobial-underwear group (p = 0.018), with marked reductions in Candida spp., Gardnerella vaginalis, E. coli, and Klebsiella spp. Conclusions: Antimicrobial underwear, when used in conjunction with standard treatment, can enhance symptom relief and maintain genital hygiene. By improving the vulvovaginal microenvironment, antimicrobial textiles can reduce moisture and the persistence of pathogens.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm15041395","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,10]],"date-time":"2026-02-10T15:23:14Z","timestamp":1770736994000},"page":"1395","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Effects of Antimicrobial Underwear on Vaginal Symptoms and Vaginal Microbiota: A Prospective Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0000-9081-5622","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Yunus","family":"\u00d6ztoprak","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ceylanp\u0131nar State Hospital, \u015eanl\u0131urfa 63570, Turkey"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Metehan","family":"\u00d6ztoprak","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Medicaltex, Kayseri 38030, Turkey"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Emre","family":"Desteg\u00fcl","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Private Adana Middle East Hospital, Adana 01140, Turkey"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0019-8403","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sefa","family":"Arl\u0131er","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Adana 01120, Turkey"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0009-6150-3115","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Atahan T\u00f6re","family":"Toklu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Adana 01120, Turkey"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Hasan Can","family":"Toygan\u00f6z\u00fc","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Private Medline Adana Hospital, Adana 01170, Turkey"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3003-4573","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Cevdet","family":"Ad\u0131g\u00fczel","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Park Adana Hospital, Adana 01160, Turkey"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,10]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"P\u00e9rez-Ibave, D.C., Burciaga-Flores, C.H., Garc\u00eda-Mej\u00eda, X., Alcorta-Nu\u00f1ez, F., Solis-Coronado, O., Escamilla, M.G., Vidal-Guti\u00e9rrez, O., and Garza-Rodr\u00edguez, M.L. (2025). Hallmarks of Bacterial Vaginosis. Diagnostic, 15.","DOI":"10.3390\/diagnostics15091090"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Church, D., Naugler, C., Guo, M., and Somayaji, R. (2024). Evaluating the epidemiology of vaginitis in a contemporary cohort: A population-based study. Front. Public Health, 12.","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2024.1486356"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e0081624","DOI":"10.1128\/jcm.00816-24","article-title":"Vaginitis and risk of sexually transmitted infections: Results of a multi-center U.S. clinical study using STI nucleic acid amplification testing","volume":"62","author":"Schwebke","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Clin. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1869","DOI":"10.1007\/s10096-024-04915-7","article-title":"The association between lifestyle factors and the composition of the vaginal microbiota: A review","volume":"43","author":"Morsli","year":"2024","journal-title":"Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4600610","DOI":"10.1155\/ipid\/4600610","article-title":"Association of Behavioral and Socioeconomic Factors With Sexually Transmitted Infection Positivity in Vulnerable Women From a Neotropical Setting","volume":"2025","author":"Cora","year":"2025","journal-title":"Interdiscip. Perspect. Infect. Dis."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Guo, Y., He, J., Li, S., Zou, S., Zhang, H., Yang, X., and Wang, J. (2025). Warm and humid environment induces gut microbiota dysbiosis and bacterial translocation leading to inflammatory state and promotes proliferation and biofilm formation of certain bacteria, potentially causing sticky stool. BMC Microbiol., 25.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12866-024-03730-6"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5747","DOI":"10.1007\/s00289-021-03826-3","article-title":"Antimicrobial textile: Recent developments and functional perspective","volume":"79","author":"Gulati","year":"2022","journal-title":"Polym. Bull."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kramar, A., and Kostic, M. (2025). Advances in Nanoparticles Integrated Antibacterial Textiles. Nanoparticles Integrated Functional Textiles, Springer.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-032-00246-4_4"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Broadhead, R., Craeye, L., and Callewaert, C. (2021). The future of functional clothing for an improved skin and textile microbiome relationship. Microorganisms, 9.","DOI":"10.3390\/microorganisms9061192"},{"key":"ref_10","first-page":"17455057231223716","article-title":"Maintaining vulvar, vaginal and perineal health: Clinical considerations","volume":"20","author":"Graziottin","year":"2024","journal-title":"Women\u2019s Health"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"49","DOI":"10.2147\/IJWH.S229366","article-title":"Evaluation of Vulvovaginitis and Hygiene Habits of Women Attended in Primary Health Care Units of the Family","volume":"12","author":"Felix","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int. J. Womens Health"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"89","DOI":"10.20473\/jn.v17i1.34402","article-title":"The relationship between genital hygiene behaviors and genital infections among women: A systematic review","volume":"17","author":"Umami","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Ners"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"197","DOI":"10.1080\/1040841X.2021.1950121","article-title":"Biofilm formation in clinically relevant filamentous fungi: A therapeutic challenge","volume":"48","author":"Roudbary","year":"2022","journal-title":"Crit. Rev. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"799","DOI":"10.1111\/ijd.15425","article-title":"The \u201cMaskne\u201d microbiome\u2014Pathophysiology and therapeutics","volume":"60","author":"Teo","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. J. Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e1904113","DOI":"10.1002\/adma.201904113","article-title":"Bioinspired Janus Textile with Conical Micropores for Human Body Moisture and Thermal Management","volume":"31","author":"Dai","year":"2019","journal-title":"Adv. Mater."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"148","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijbiomac.2022.06.184","article-title":"Durable antibacterial cotton fabric fabricated using a \u201cself-created\u201d mist polymerization device","volume":"216","author":"Xu","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int. J. Biol. Macromol."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Babutan, I., Lucaci, A.D., and Botiz, I. (2021). Antimicrobial Polymeric Structures Assembled on Surfaces. Polymers, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/polym13101552"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.15698\/mic2020.01.702","article-title":"The role of Lactobacillus species in the control of Candida via biotrophic interactions","volume":"7","author":"Zangl","year":"2019","journal-title":"Microb. Cell."}],"container-title":["Journal of Clinical Medicine"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2077-0383\/15\/4\/1395\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,10]],"date-time":"2026-02-10T15:39:09Z","timestamp":1770737949000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2077-0383\/15\/4\/1395"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,10]]},"references-count":18,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,2]]}},"alternative-id":["jcm15041395"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/jcm15041395","relation":{},"ISSN":["2077-0383"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2077-0383","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,10]]}}}