title: Comparative in vitro inhibition of urinary tract pathogens by single- and multi-strain probiotics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Multi-species probiotic preparations have been suggested as having a wide spectrum of application, although few studies have compared their efficacy with that of individual component strains at equal concentrations. We therefore tested the ability of 4 single probiotics and 4 probiotic mixtures to inhibit the urinary tract pathogens Escherichia coli NCTC 9001 and Enterococcus faecalis NCTC 00775.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used an agar spot test to test the ability of viable cells to inhibit pathogens, while a broth inhibition assay was used to assess inhibition by cell-free probiotic supernatants in both pH-neutralised and non-neutralised forms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the agar spot test, all probiotic treatments showed inhibition, L. acidophilus was the most inhibitory single strain against E. faecalis, L. fermentum the most inhibitory against E. coli. A commercially available mixture of 14 strains (Bio-Kult(®)) was the most effective mixture, against E. faecalis, the 3-lactobacillus mixture the most inhibitory against E. coli. Mixtures were not significantly more inhibitory than single strains. In the broth inhibition assays, all probiotic supernatants inhibited both pathogens when pH was not controlled, with only 2 treatments causing inhibition at a neutral pH.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both viable cells of probiotics and supernatants of probiotic cultures were able to inhibit growth of two urinary tract pathogens. Probiotic mixtures prevented the growth of urinary tract pathogens but were not significantly more inhibitory than single strains. Probiotics appear to produce metabolites that are inhibitory towards urinary tract pathogens. Probiotics display potential to reduce the incidence of urinary tract infections via inhibition of colonisation.
authors: Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Reading, P.O. Box 226, Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6AP, UK. cb010202@reading.ac.uk
authors: C M C
authors: CM
authors: Chapman
authors: G R
authors: GR
authors: Gibson
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Todd
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Rowland
mesh_terms: D000898:Antibiosis; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000254:growth & development; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000254:growth & development; D052197:Limosilactobacillus fermentum / Q000254:growth & development; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014551:Urinary Tract / Q000382:microbiology*; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000517:prevention & control
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