Efficacy of vaginal probiotic capsules for recurrent bacterial vaginosis: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.
OBJECTIVE
We assessed the effectiveness of vaginal probiotic capsules for recurrent bacterial vaginosis (BV) prevention.


METHODS
One hundred twenty healthy Chinese women with a history of recurrent BV were assigned randomly to daily vaginal prophylaxis with 1 capsule (Probaclac Vaginal; Nicar Laboratories, Inc, Blainville, Quebec, Canada) that contained 8 billion colony-forming units of Lactobacillus rhamnosus, L acidophilus, and Streptococcus thermophilus (n = 58 women) or 1 placebo capsule (n = 62 women) for 7 days on, 7 days off, and 7 days on.


RESULTS
Probiotic prophylaxis resulted in lower recurrence rates for BV (15.8% [9/57 women] vs 45.0% [27/60 women]; P < .001) and Gardnerella vaginalis incidence through 2 months (3.5% [2/57 women] vs 18.3% [11/60 women]; P = .02). Between the 2- and 11-month follow-up period, women who received probiotics reported a lower incidence of BV and G vaginalis. Aside from vaginal discharge and malodor, no adverse events were reported in either study group.


CONCLUSIONS
Short-term probiotic prophylaxis is well tolerated and reduces BV recurrence and G vaginalis risk through 11 months after treatment.
Ya
Wang
W
Department of Gynecology, Yuyao/Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Reifer
Cheryl
C
Miller
Larry E
LE
D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000328:Adult; D002214:Capsules / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002681:China; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007779:Lactobacillus acidophilus; D052201:Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D018579:Patient Selection; D011336:Probability; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012008:Recurrence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D048249:Streptococcus thermophilus; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology*
D002214:Capsules