Nonoxynol-9: differential antibacterial activity and enhancement of bacterial adherence to vaginal epithelial cells.
The antibacterial activity and adherence-enhancing effects of nonoxynol-9 were evaluated against vaginal and uropathogenic bacteria. Nonoxynol-9 was markedly less active against the 43 uropathogenic bacterial and yeast strains tested (MIC90, greater than 32%) than against the 26 Gardnerella vaginalis strains (MIC90, less than or equal to 0.015%) and the 53 Lactobacillus strains (MIC90, 8%) tested. Hydrogen peroxide-producing strains of Lactobacillus were more susceptible to nonoxynol-9 (MIC90, 4%) than nonproducers (MIC90, 16%). Two Escherichia coli strains that expressed type 1 fimbriae and three vaginal strains of lactobacilli adhered in significantly higher numbers to vaginal epithelial cells preincubated with 5% nonoxynol-9 than to control cells preincubated with PBS. Spermicides may provide a selective advantage in colonizing the vagina with nonoxynol-9-resistant uropathogens such as E. coli, perhaps via a reduction in vaginal lactobacilli (especially hydrogen peroxide-producing strains) and through enhancement of adherence of E. coli to epithelial cells.
Hooton
T M
TM
Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle.
Fennell
C L
CL
Clark
A M
AM
Stamm
W E
WE
D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects*; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004848:Epithelium / Q000382:microbiology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006194:Gardnerella vaginalis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D017137:Nonoxynol; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013089:Spermatocidal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology*
D013089:Spermatocidal Agents; D017137:Nonoxynol; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols