Vaginal application of lactobacilli in the prophylaxis of recurrent lower urinary tract infection in women

Abstract

Objective - To examine whether vaginal application of Lactobacillus casei v. rhamnosus reduces the reinfection rate in cystitis-prone women.

Design - A controlled, randomized, double-blind clinical trial.

Setting - Division for General Practice, University of Bergen, Norway.

Intervention - Vaginal application of lactobacilli twice weekly.

Subjects - 47 women, aged 18 - 50 years, reporting three or more episodes of distal urinary symptoms during the previous 12 months, of which at least one episode had been medically verified as a lower UTI.

Main outcome measure - The incidence rate of lower UTI during 6 months' follow-up.

Results - No difference in infection rate between the two groups; the incidence rate ratio between the treatment group and the placebo group was 1.41 (95% confidence interval 0.88 - 1.98). Lactobacilli were not found more frequently periurethrally in the treatment group than in the control group.

Conclusion - It is still uncertain whether vaginal application of lactobacilli reduces the infection rate in cystitis-prone women.

Key Words:

• lactobacillus casei
• prophylaxis
• urinary tract infections