Overall , lactobacilli were beneficial for the treatment of patients with bacterial vaginosis .
No clear benefit was seen for c and idiasis or urinary tract infection .
In conclusion , the use of certain lactobacillus strains such as L. rhamnosus GR-1 and L. reuteri for prevention and treatment of recurrent urogenital infection is promising , especially for recurrent bacterial vaginosis .
Abstract Probiotics are increasingly being used to treat and prevent urogenital infections .
However , a critical assessment of their efficacy in major urogenital infections is lacking .
We report the results of a systematic review to determine the efficacy of probiotics for prevention or treatment of three major urogenital infections : bacterial vaginosis , vulvovaginal c and idiasis , and urinary tract infection .
Activity of a Lactobacillus acidophilus-based douche for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis.
OBJECTIVES Bacterial vaginosis is characterized by alteration of the normal vaginal microflora , in which a mixed anaerobic bacterial flora becomes prevalent over the population of lacobacilli . Because administration of probiotics might be of some utility in restoring a normal flora , the present study aim ed to evaluate the effect of a Lactobacillus acidophilus-strain-based douche on the vaginal environment in bacterial vaginosis . PATIENTS AND METHODS In an open-label pilot evaluation , 40 women with bacterial vaginosis as defined by Amsel 's criteria were treated for 6 days with a douche containing L. acidophilus . Vaginal smears were collected from the patients and analyzed according to Nugent 's criteria at the time of diagnosis , after 6 days of treatment , and again at 20 days after the last treatment . At the same times , determination of vaginal pH and a Whiff test were performed . RESULTS The Nugent score decreased significantly from bacterial vaginosis or an intermediate flora toward a normal flora during treatment , and remained low during the follow-up period for almost all of the patients , indicating bacterial vaginosis in 52.5 % and in 7.5 % of the patients before treatment and at follow-up , respectively . After treatment , significant decreases in vaginal pH were observed , to less than pH 4.5 in 34/40 women , and the odor test became negative in all of the patients . CONCLUSIONS In this preliminary study , treatment of bacterial vaginosis with a vaginal douche containing a strain of L. acidophilus contributed to the restoration of a normal vaginal environment
Overall , lactobacilli were beneficial for the treatment of patients with bacterial vaginosis .
No clear benefit was seen for c and idiasis or urinary tract infection .
In conclusion , the use of certain lactobacillus strains such as L. rhamnosus GR-1 and L. reuteri for prevention and treatment of recurrent urogenital infection is promising , especially for recurrent bacterial vaginosis .
Abstract Probiotics are increasingly being used to treat and prevent urogenital infections .
However , a critical assessment of their efficacy in major urogenital infections is lacking .
We report the results of a systematic review to determine the efficacy of probiotics for prevention or treatment of three major urogenital infections : bacterial vaginosis , vulvovaginal c and idiasis , and urinary tract infection .