Vaginal application of lactobacilli in the prophylaxis of recurrent lower urinary tract infection in women.

OBJECTIVE

To examine whether vaginal application of Lactobacillus casei v. rhamnosus reduces the reinfection rate in cystitis-prone women.

DESIGN

A controlled, randomized, double-blind clinical trial.

SETTING

Division for General Practice, University of Bergen, Norway.

INTERVENTION: Vaginal application of lactobacilli twice weekly.

SUBJECTS: 47 women, aged 18-50 years, reporting three or more episodes of distal urinary symptoms during the previous 12 months, of which at least one episode had been medically verified as a lower UTI.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The incidence rate of lower UTI during 6 months' follow-up.

RESULTS

No difference in infection rate between the two groups; the incidence rate ratio between the treatment group and the placebo group was 1.41 (95% confidence interval 0.88-1.98). Lactobacilli were not found more frequently periurethrally in the treatment group than in the control group.

CONCLUSION

It is still uncertain whether vaginal application of lactobacilli reduces the infection rate in cystitis-prone women.