Could probiotics be an option for treating and preventing urogenital infections?
Considering the enormity of the problem in terms of women infected per year, urogenital infections receive far too little attention from scientists, government funding agencies, and the pharmaceutical industry. A recent resurgence in interest among clinicians is a result of consumer demands for better therapies, problems resulting from drug resistance, and the prospect of new diagnostics and treatments on the horizon. It is now recognized that the intestinal and urogenital microflora are critical for the health and well-being of humans. The concept of replenishing these flora with probiotic organisms seems to be an option that has a growing scientific basis. Although few strains have been selected and targeted for urogenital applications, and none are currently available on the market, evidence shows that probiotic therapy has the potential to make an impact on women's health.
Reid
G
G
Lawson Health Research Institute and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
Bruce
A W
AW
D002170:Canada; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007777:Lactobacillaceae; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology*; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016387:Women's Health