Randomized, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial of a Lactobacillus crispatus probiotic given intravaginally for prevention of recurrent urinary tract infection

Clin Infect Dis. 2011 May;52(10):1212-7. doi: 10.1093/cid/cir183. Epub 2011 Apr 14.

Abstract

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common among women and frequently recur. Depletion of vaginal lactobacilli is associated with UTI risk, which suggests that repletion may be beneficial. We conducted a double-blind placebo-controlled trial of a Lactobacillus crispatus intravaginal suppository probiotic (Lactin-V; Osel) for prevention of recurrent UTI in premenopausal women.

Methods: One hundred young women with a history of recurrent UTI received antimicrobials for acute UTI and then were randomized to receive either Lactin-V or placebo daily for 5 d, then once weekly for 10 weeks. Participants were followed up at 1 week and 10 weeks after intervention and for UTIs; urine samples for culture and vaginal swabs for real-time quantitative 16S ribosomal RNA gene polymerase chain reaction for L. crispatus were collected.

Results: Recurrent UTI occurred in 7/48 15% of women receiving Lactin-V compared with 13/48 27% of women receiving placebo (relative risk [RR], .5; 95% confidence interval, .2-1.2). High-level vaginal colonization with L. crispatus (≥10(6) 16S RNA gene copies per swab) throughout follow-up was associated with a significant reduction in recurrent UTI only for Lactin-V (RR for Lactin-V, .07; RR for placebo, 1.1; P < .01).

Conclusions: Lactin-V after treatment for cystitis is associated with a reduction in recurrent UTI. Larger efficacy trials of this novel preventive method for recurrent UTI are warranted. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION. NCT00305227.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase II
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Intravaginal
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Bacterial Load
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lactobacillus / physiology*
  • Placebos / administration & dosage*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Probiotics / administration & dosage*
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
  • Recurrence
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Urinary Tract Infections / prevention & control*
  • Urine / microbiology
  • Vagina / microbiology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Placebos
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT00305227