Probiotic Supplementation Study on Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections

A recent study published in the Clinical Infectious Diseases explored alternative strategies such as the effectiveness of probiotic supplementation to combat recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs).

This double-blind, placebo-controlled trial enrolled a total of 174 premenopausal women with a history of recurrent UTIs. The participants were divided into four groups and administered either oral probiotics, vaginal probiotics, a combination of both, or placebos over a span of four months.

Study Results

The results revealed that at the four-month mark, the incidence of UTIs in participants who received vaginal probiotics or the combination of oral and vaginal probiotics was significantly lower when compared to those in the placebo group. Also, the mean number of symptomatic UTI recurrences was significantly reduced in these groups, indicating the benefits of probiotic supplementation.

The time to the first symptomatic UTI was significantly prolonged in the groups receiving vaginal probiotics or the combination regimen, underscoring the potential for these interventions to provide long-term protection against recurrent UTIs. The probiotic supplements were well tolerated by participants, and no serious adverse events were observed. This suggests that probiotic supplementation could offer a safe and effective alternative or adjunctive therapy for individuals prone to recurrent UTIs.

Significance of the Study

The study highlighted the importance of these findings in the context of growing antibiotic resistance, emphasizing the benefits of probiotics as a non-antibiotic strategy in preventing recurrent UTIs. Probiotics offer promise for reducing the burden of UTIs while minimizing the risk of antibiotic resistance by promoting a healthy balance of bacteria in the urinary and vaginal tracts. Further research on the role of probiotics in urinary tract health may inform clinical guidelines for the prevention and management of recurrent UTIs.

Reference

Gupta, V., Mastromarino, P., & Garg, R. (2023). Effectiveness of Prophylactic Oral and/or Vaginal Probiotic Supplementation in the Prevention of Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. In Clinical Infectious Diseases. Oxford University Press (OUP). https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciad766