Vaginal application of lactobacilli in the prophylaxis of recurrent lower urinary tract infection in women.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether vaginal application of Lactobacillus casei v. rhamnosus reduces the reinfection rate in cystitis-prone women.


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


METHODS
Division for General Practice, University of Bergen, Norway.


METHODS
Vaginal application of lactobacilli twice weekly.


METHODS
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.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
It is still uncertain whether vaginal application of lactobacilli reduces the infection rate in cystitis-prone women.
Baerheim
A
A
Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care, University of Bergen, Norway.
Larsen
E
E
Digranes
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003556:Cystitis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006088:Gram-Negative Aerobic Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006095:Gram-Positive Cocci / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007780:Lacticaseibacillus casei; D008875:Middle Aged; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology*