1. Activity of a Lactobacillus acidophilus-based douche for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis.
- Author
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Drago L, De Vecchi E, Nicola L, Zucchetti E, Gismondo MR, and Vicariotto F
- Subjects
- Administration, Intravaginal, Diagnostic Techniques, Obstetrical and Gynecological, Female, Humans, Middle Aged, Pilot Projects, Reproducibility of Results, Research Design, Treatment Outcome, Vaginal Smears, Women's Health, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Probiotics therapeutic use, Vaginal Douching methods, Vaginosis, Bacterial therapy
- Abstract
Objectives: Bacterial vaginosis is characterized by alteration of the normal vaginal microflora, in which a mixed anaerobic bacterial flora becomes prevalent over the population of lacobacilli. Because administration of probiotics might be of some utility in restoring a normal flora, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of a Lactobacillus acidophilus-strain-based douche on the vaginal environment in bacterial vaginosis., Patients and Methods: In an open-label pilot evaluation, 40 women with bacterial vaginosis as defined by Amsel's criteria were treated for 6 days with a douche containing L. acidophilus. Vaginal smears were collected from the patients and analyzed according to Nugent's criteria at the time of diagnosis, after 6 days of treatment, and again at 20 days after the last treatment. At the same times, determination of vaginal pH and a Whiff test were performed., Results: The Nugent score decreased significantly from bacterial vaginosis or an intermediate flora toward a normal flora during treatment, and remained low during the follow-up period for almost all of the patients, indicating bacterial vaginosis in 52.5% and in 7.5% of the patients before treatment and at follow-up, respectively. After treatment, significant decreases in vaginal pH were observed, to less than pH 4.5 in 34/40 women, and the odor test became negative in all of the patients., Conclusions: In this preliminary study, treatment of bacterial vaginosis with a vaginal douche containing a strain of L. acidophilus contributed to the restoration of a normal vaginal environment.
- Published
- 2007
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