Improved cure of bacterial vaginosis with single dose of tinidazole (2 g),Lactobacillus rhamnosusGR-1, andLactobacillus reuteriRC-14: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Abstract

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most prevalent vaginal infection worldwide and is characterized by depletion of the indigenous lactobacilli. Antimicrobial therapy is often ineffective. We hypothesized that probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14 might provide an adjunct to antimicrobial treatment and improve cure rates. Sixty-four Brazilian women diagnosed with BV were randomly assigned to receive a single dose of tinidazole (2 g) supplemented with either 2 placebo capsules or 2 capsules containing L. rhamnosus GR-1 and L. reuteri RC-14 every morning for the following 4 weeks. At the end of treatment (day 28), the probiotic group had a significantly higher cure rate of BV (87.5%) than the placebo group (50.0%) (p = 0.001). In addition, according to the Gram-stain Nugent score, more women were assessed with "normal" vaginal microbiota in the probiotic group (75.0% vs. 34.4% in the placebo group; p = 0.011). This study shows that probiotic lactobacilli can provide benefits to women being treated with antibiotics for an infectious condition.

Qualitative and semiquantitative analysis of Lactobacillus species in the vaginas of healthy fertile and postmenopausal Chinese women

“…However, previous studies found that vaginal lactobacilli can be restored to some extent in postmenopausal women who receive hormone replacement therapy (Heinemann & Reid, 2005). The normal microbiota of the vagina may prevent the colonization of pathogenic micro-organisms, including those responsible for bacterial vaginosis (BV) (Anukam et al, 2006;Martinez et al, 2009), yeast infections (Martinez et al, 2009), urinary tract infections (Cadieux et al, 2009;Shiraishi et al, 2011) and sexually transmitted diseases (Bolton et al, 2008).…”

Microbiota at Multiple Body Sites during Pregnancy in a Rural Tanzanian Population and Effects of Moringa-Supplemented Probiotic Yogurt

“…The probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 was selected for use as an intervention in the present study since it has a safe history of use (8,9,21) and was already produced in Mwanza, Tanzania, as part of the Western Heads East network of microenterprise community-run kitchens (22). For the purposes of the present study, the yogurt was further supplemented with dried ground Moringa oleifera (Moringa), a readily available plant, rich in vitamin A, proteins, carbohydrate, fiber, minerals, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, copper, iron, zinc, and manganese (23) and used commonly in the management of malnutrition (24).…”

The impact of oral probiotics on vaginal Group B Streptococcal colonisation rates in pregnant women: A pilot randomised control study

“…In addition to these concerns, the effects of probiotics have been shown to be strain specific; therefore, the use of an individual micro-organism strain is only justified in procuring the specific benefits that it has been proven to convey (Martinez et al, 2009;Pham et al, 2008, World Health Organisation, 2002. For example, a specific strain of Lactobacilli which has been proven to improve travellers' diarrhoea cannot also be assumed to improve eczema.…”