In vitro antagonistic effect of Lactobacillus on organisms associated with bacterial vaginosis.
OBJECTIVE
To assess antagonistic properties of Lactobacillus strains isolated from the vaginas of healthy women as compared to the most common bacterial agents related to vaginosis.


METHODS
Antagonistic activity of different Lactobacillus strains isolated from the vaginas of healthy women not treated for infections with an antibiotic for the previous three months was screened using an agar slab method. The activity was tested against test organisms associated with bacterial vaginosis and/or urinary tract infections: Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus agalactiae, Escherichia coli, Gardnerella vaginalis, Peptostreptococcus anaerobius and Prevotella bivia.


RESULTS
Many of the 146 Lactobacillus strains tested exerted apparent antagonistic activities against gram-positive aerobic cocci and gram-negative rods, such as S aureus and E coli, and a marked number of Lactobacillus strains inhibited facultative bacteria, such as Gardnerella vaginalis and the anaerobes P anaerobius and P bivia. Only a few lactobacilli were able to inhibit growth of E faecalis and S agalactiae. Indicator bacteria growth inhibition probably relies upon several different complementary mechanisms. The specific indicator bacteria species determines which mechanism predominates.


CONCLUSIONS
Lactobacillus strains taken from normal vaginal flora demonstrated antagonistic activity against a variety of bacteria related to vaginal and urinary tract infections. The specific occurrence rates of active Lactobacillus strains are different, and this difference is dependent on the indicator bacteria species.
Strus
Magdalena
M
Department of Bacteriology, Medical College of Jagiellonian University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Health Care Trust of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration, Krakow, Poland.
Malinowska
Magdalena
M
Heczko
Piotr B
PB
D000898:Antibiosis / Q000502:physiology*; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D003470:Culture Media; D005260:Female; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology*
D003470:Culture Media