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Cited by 194Reproductive tract infections researchProbiotics and Fermented FoodsGut microbiota and health

Effectiveness of Lactobacillus-containing vaginal tablets in the treatment of symptomatic bacterial vaginosis

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Mastromarino, P., Macchia, S., Meggiorini, L., Trinchieri, V., Mosca, L., Perluigi, M., Midulla, C.·2009·Clinical Microbiology and Infection
DOI 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2008.02112.x
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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of Lactobacillus-containing vaginal tablets in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and in the restoration of a healthy vaginal flora. Thirty-nine women with BV were enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Patients received either one Lactobacillus-containing tablet or placebo daily for 7 days. Clinical criteria, vaginal Gram stain scores and symptoms were compared with those at the initial visit and those at completion of therapy and 2 weeks later. After completion of therapy, all of the patients in the Lactobacillus-treated group (n = 18) were free of BV, showing a normal (83%) or intermediate (17%) vaginal flora, as compared with only two patients free of BV with intermediate flora (12%) from among the 16 placebo-treated women (p <0.001). Two weeks after completion of therapy, treatment was successful (score <7) in 61% of Lactobacillus-treated patients as compared with 19% of those in the placebo group (p <0.05). In the treatment group, the total number of symptomatic patients and the intensity of their symptoms, in particular vaginal malodour, were significantly reduced at both follow-up visits. The data indicate that intravaginal administration of exogenous selected strains of lactobacilli can restore a normal vaginal microbiota and be used in treating bacterial vaginosis.

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  • Several recent clinical studies have demonstrated that topical Lactobacillus therapy as 'complementary treatment' after antibiotic therapy, especially with vaginal suppositories, can significantly reduce the frequency of rUTIs, even in postmenopausal women with refractory infections.

    “Several recent clinical studies have demonstrated that topical Lactobacillus therapy as 'complementary treatment' after antibiotic therapy, especially with vaginal suppositories, can significantly reduce the frequency of rUTIs, even in postmenopausal women with refractory infections [6, 14-16], highlighting the therapeutic potential of microbiome-targeted strategies.”

    From Vaginal microbiota and urinary tract infections in women: the protective role of vaginal lactobacilli in counteracting urinary tract infections occurrence and recurrence (2026) · cites this paper as [15]

    The Discussion reports that vaginal Lactobacillus tablets helped treat recurrent bacterial vaginosis and suggests their use after systemic antibiotics; it does not report a reduction in recurrent urinary tract infections. The Patients section specifies premenopausal women and excludes recent antibiotic use, so the claimed result in postmenopausal women with refractory infections is not supported. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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Cited by

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Authors
Mastromarino, P., Macchia, S., Meggiorini, L., Trinchieri, V., Mosca, L., Perluigi, M., & Midulla, C.
Affiliations
Sapienza University of Rome (IT)
Corresponding author
Mastromarino, P.
ORCID
Venue
Clinical Microbiology and Infection
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2009-01
Volume
15
Issue
1
Pages
67-74
ISSN
1198-743X (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1111/j.1469-0691.2008.02112.x
OpenAlex
W2147004466
Cited by
194
References
4
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 30 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 7
FWCI
5.11
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Clinical Microbiology and Infection (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • IRIS Research product catalog (Sapienza University of Rome) (submittedVersion)
  • INFM-OAR (INFN Catania) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Microbiology › Reproductive tract infections research
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Probiotics and Fermented Foods
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
Keywords
bacterial vaginosis, Lactobacillus, vaginal tablets, probiotics, vaginal microbiota, vaginal administration
MeSH terms
Adult, Double-Blind Method, Female, Humans, Lactobacillus, Vagina, Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies, Biogenic Polyamines, Vaginosis, Bacterial, Statistics, Nonparametric, Probiotics

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