# Implementing point-of-care tests to optimize antibiotic use for vaginal discharge: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial in Nepal

## TL;DR

This study tests if point-of-care tests and education can reduce unnecessary antibiotic use for vaginal discharge in Nepal.

## Contribution

The study introduces a randomized trial combining point-of-care diagnostics with education to reduce antibiotic overuse in a low-resource setting.

## Key findings

- POCT-guided treatment may reduce overtreatment compared to syndromic management.
- Adding education and psychosocial support could further improve antibiotic use and health outcomes.
- The trial will assess long-term effects on health-seeking behavior and symptom changes.

## Abstract

Vaginal discharge (VD) is a common health concern among women of reproductive age worldwide. In low- and lower-middle-income countries (LLMICs), one in four women experiences distressing VD which may indicate underlying infections. About one-third of these cases are caused by one of three curable sexually transmitted infections (STIs)—Chlamydia trachomatis [Ct], Neisseria gonorrhea [Ng], Trichomonas vaginalis [Tv]—or by bacterial vaginosis (BV). Syndromic management, the standard approach to care in LLMICs, relies on empirical antibiotic treatment, often resulting in overtreatment and contributing to antimicrobial resistance. To reduce unnecessary use of antibiotics, affordable, accurate, and rapid diagnostic tests such as point-of-care tests (POCTs) are needed—particularly in settings where over-the-counter antibiotic use is common and psychosocial problems may be somatized. Additionally, education on VD and appropriate antibiotic use, along with recognition of mental health or domestic violence issues, may be important for facilitating acceptance of POCTs.

This study is a randomized controlled double-blind, superiority trial with follow-up assessments at 4 weeks and 4 months conducted in a Nepalese teaching hospital and its outreach centers. Participants are randomly assigned to one of three study arms: Arm 1 receives treatment, based on syndromic management; Arm 2 receives POCT-guided treatment using the Cepheid GeneXpert® (for Ct and Ng), pH and whiff tests (for BV and Tv), and the OSOM® test (for Tv); Arm 3 receives the same POCT-guided treatment as Arm 2, plus an educational intervention, and referral for psychosocial concerns. The primary outcome is the proportion of participants overtreated with antibiotics at the primary consultation, comparing Arm 1 versus Arms 2 and 3. Secondary outcomes include over-the-counter antibiotic acquisition, subsequent health-seeking behavior, and changes in VD symptom development over time.

The trial assesses the effectiveness and impact of integrating POCTs into VD management in a resource-limited setting. Results of comparing syndromic-based management with POCT-guided diagnostic testing and treatment, both alone and combined with psychosocial and education-based interventions, inform strategies to reduce antibiotic overuse and improve broader reproductive health concerns.

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05977491. Registered on 8 April 2023. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05977491?cond=vaginal%20discharge&rank=6

Version 6, October 30, 2025.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13063-025-09333-4.