Probiotics Improve Urogenital Health In Women

BACKGROUND: Urogenital recurrent infections represent a global medical issue in the world, affecting millions of women because of dramatic shifts in bacterial composition and concentrations in response to numerous endogenousand exogenous factors. Urogenital microbiota forms a mutually beneficial relationship with their host and has a major impact on health and disease. AIM:This study aimedto compare probiotic therapy versus placebo in Oxidative Stress Values (OSVs) and histological features in urogenital infections in female patients. METHODS:Forty (n=40) patients diagnosed with recurrent urogenital infections were recruited to be treated as test group (n=20), receiving Probiotics, and acontrolgroup (n=20), receiving looking similar placebo, both for 90 days. Both the groups were assessed for total oxidant capacity (d-ROMs test) and biological antioxidant potential as iron-reducing activity (BAP test) at baseline, after 1 and 3months. Histological changes on inner vaginal mucosa were also investigated, during the entire study.RESULTS:d-ROM assay clearly showed that the values of the testgroup were significantly different, thus leading the general health conditions from a state of high oxidative stress to low oxidative stress levels.Increasing of BAP values were more significant, and clinically relevant, in probiotic test group over time. CONCLUSION:Our pilot study gave interesting and promising elements to confirm the safety and effectiveness of oral probiotics in preventing/reducing the recurrent urogenitalinfections by an overall modification of inner vaginal microbiota.IntroductionUrogenital infections are among the most common worldwide human infectious diseases [1]. Annually it is estimated that one billion women around the world suffer from non-sexually transmitted urogenital infections, including bacterial vaginosis, yeast vaginitis, and urinary tract infection (UTI). Although most patients respond to antimicrobial treatment, the recurrence rate is high and associated with side effects [2], with costs to health care providers amounting to over $6 billion annually worldwide. [3] UTI can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, ectopic pregnancy, premature labour, low birth weight babies, chronic pain, and increased vulnerability to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The urogenital system is an amalgamation of the urinary tract and reproductive system. Because both systems are open tothe external environment, they are susceptible to infections. Some infections are introduced from outside, whereas others result from imbalances in the microbiota of the urogenital tract. Urinary Tract Infections are typically causedbybacteria that normally live in the colon and rectum. Once bacteria are introducedinto the urethra, they multiply and travel up to the bladder. E. coli is usually the most prevalent organism responsible for UTIs and accounts for 80–85% of the total isolates, with