A recent study shows that the use of probiotic is superior to antibiotics  for treating recurrent urinary tract infections in women.

Ann E. Stapleton.and her colleagues  conducted a randomized double-blind phase 2 study for assessing the impact of pro-biotic in preventing and controlling occurrences of urinary tract infection.

The intravaginal application of probiotic consisting of Lactobacillus crispatus CTV-05  or  Lactin-V  from Osel Inc have proved to be beneficial in limiting the recurrence of urinary tract infection  (UTI) by almost fifty percent  in UTI- susceptible  women.

Significantly large studies are needed to necessitate the replacement of long prevalent antimicrobial preventive methods by vaginal Lactobacillus in prone females.

Ann Stapleton, MD, in the Washington University, Seattle,  observed that the females with UTI occurring tendencies have a deranged vaginal flora that leads to  decrease in  Lactobacilli.

It was noted in phase 1 of the study of Lactin-V that administration of the probiotic as vaginal suppository in females with recurrent UTI history resulted in minimum side effects. 100 premenopausal females with prior UTI history (median age 21 years) in the phase 2 study, were given antimicrobial drugs and later on randomly picked to either use  placebo vaginal suppository or ( Lactin-V . The treatment was given once a day for 5 days. Follow up was done weekly for 10 weeks.

Dr. Stapleton’s study revealed that recurrent UTI was seen to occur in only  7 (15%) of 48 ladies receiving  Lactin-V  while with placebo the recurrent UTI was seen in 13 (27%) females.  Studies established the relative risk [RR], .5; 95% confidence interval [CI], .2 - 1.2).

Dr. Stepleton reported that the apprehensions associated with use of Lactin-V were almost identical to that of antimicrobial drugs in majority of the women.

The follow up was related with significant level of colonization and major decrease in recurrentUTI in females receiving  Lactin-V.The phase 1 study revealed that the safety profile of the women getting Lactobacillus crispatus CTV-05 and placebo was almost identical ( 56% vs  50%) The common side effects in both groups were - Vaginal discharge, abdominal discomfort and pruritus.

The most outstanding feature was that the females treated with placebo were found to have high concentrations of vaginal L. crispatus but were still  prone to  recurrent UTI  (RR, 1.1; 95% CI, .4 - 3.1). However females who underwent treatment with Lactin-V were well protected against recurrent UTI (RR, .07; 95% CI, .02 - .3; P < .01).

Females

The conclusion drawn was that in the treatment of UTI, Lactin-V has advantage over vaginal microbiota regeneration brought about by endogenous L. crispatus.  The creation of better understanding of protection mechanism and optimization of an adequate prophylactic regime was also possible with this study.

Source:

The study was published in. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2011, and was conducted by Ann E. Stapleton,Melissa Au-Yeung, Thomas M. Hooton, David N. Fredricks, Pacita L. Roberts, Christopher A. Czaja, Yuliya Yarova-Yarovaya,1 Tina Fiedler, Marsha Cox, and Walter E. Stamm

Source-Medindia