title: Hydrogen peroxide production by Lactobacillus species: correlation with susceptibility to the spermicidal compound nonoxynol-9.
abstract: Facultative anaerobic lactobacilli were recovered from the vaginas of 96.8% of 63 nonpregnant, healthy, premenopausal women. The predominant species were Lactobacillus jensenii, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Lactobacillus casei. Of the women, 74.6% had hydrogen peroxide-producing lactobacilli, 22.2% had non-hydrogen peroxide-producing lactobacilli, and 3.2% had no lactobacilli. None of the 68 isolates had catalase activity. Some 68.2% of the isolates were inhibited by concentrations of less than or equal to 1% (wt/vol) of nonoxynol-9 (bactericidal for 73.3% of isolates, bacteriostatic for 26.7%). The remaining 31.8% could grow in all concentrations to 25% (wt/vol) of nonoxynol-9. All of the lactobacilli that were sensitive to nonoxynol-9 produced hydrogen peroxide whereas only 3 of 21 resistant strains were hydrogen peroxide producers. A significant correlation (P less than .001, chi 2 test) was found between hydrogen peroxide production and sensitivity to nonoxynol-9. It is suggested that the vaginal flora of spermicide users could be depleted of hydrogen peroxide-producing lactobacilli, possibly increasing susceptibility to urogenital infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery (Division of Urology), University of Toronto, London, Canada.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: McGroarty
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tomeczek
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Pond
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Bruce
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D007779:Lactobacillus acidophilus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007780:Lacticaseibacillus casei / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D017137:Nonoxynol; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013089:Spermatocidal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D013089:Spermatocidal Agents; D017137:Nonoxynol; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide