title: Increased Gardnerella vaginalis urogenital biofilm in inflammatory bowel disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a systemic inflammatory condition that affects the entire organism, not only the bowel. An impaired interaction with microbiota has been shown to be important. We looked for bacterial factors, which may contribute to the well-known higher incidence of poor reproductive outcome in IBD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Urine specimen of patients with Crohn's disease (N=42), ulcerative colitis (N=46), and randomly selected patients attending the General Internal Medicine Outpatient Clinic of the Charité for non-IBD related medical conditions (N=49) was analyzed for bacteria adherent to desquamated epithelial cells and diffusely distributed bacteria in the urine using fluorescence in situ hybridization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The urine of IBD patients contained significantly more often Gardnerella vaginalis biofilms (CD 38%, UC 43%) than those of the control group (16%). There was no link between current disease activity, history of and present fistula and G. vaginalis biofilms, but the samples of patients with steroid refractory/dependent disease were significantly more often G. vaginalis biofilm positive. No significant differences in number of epithelial cells and leukocytes, and total bacterial counts were present.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a significant link between IBD and G. vaginalis biofilm. This observation suggests an epithelial barrier dysfunction of the genital tract. Since G. vaginalis is believed to be one of the reasons responsible for bacterial vaginosis, it may be an important factor in the well-known higher incidence of poor reproductive outcome in IBD. Excessive G. vaginalis biofilms in steroid refractory/dependent disease suggests a need to avoid long-term steroid therapy.
authors: Laboratory for Molecular Genetics, Polymicrobial Infections and Bacterial Biofilms, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Mitte, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Outpatient Clinic, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Mitte, Luisenstr. 11-13, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
authors: Johannes
authors: J
authors: Schilling
authors: Laboratory for Molecular Genetics, Polymicrobial Infections and Bacterial Biofilms, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Mitte, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
authors: Vera
authors: V
authors: Loening-Baucke
authors: Outpatient Clinic, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Mitte, Luisenstr. 11-13, 10117 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: yvonne.doerffel@charite.de.
authors: Yvonne
authors: Y
authors: Dörffel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018441:Biofilms; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D052776:Female Urogenital Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006194:Gardnerella vaginalis; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D052801:Male Urogenital Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Crohn's disease; FISH; Gardnerella vaginalis; Ulcerative colitis; Urogenital biofilm