Studying the role of probiotic in the treatment of recurrent uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) currently rank amongst the most prevalent infections representing a major health hazard. Urogenital infections are one of most common causes for a woman to visit a gynecologist or a urologist. UTIs in female usually start as vaginal infections and ascend to the urethra and bladder. Various antibiotics have been the mainstay of therapy in ameliorating the incidence of UTIs, but recurrent infections continue to afflict many women. In recent years due to irrational use of antibiotics for the treatment of bacterial infections like UTIs, antibiotic resistance has been reached at an alarming level. Use of broad-spectrum antibiotics not only kills the pathogenic bacteria but also beneficial bacteria hosted by the human body. It necessitates the exploitation of alternative  to antimicrobial therapy. Probiotics may be one of highly effective alternative treatment option. Healthy vaginal microbiota is mainly dominated by Lactobacillus species but in UTIs its level in vaginal flora decreases. Escherichia coli is the main pathogen that causes UTIs. Restoration of normal urogenital flora by exogenously administered probiotics containing Lactobacilli play a pivotal role in reducing the risk and treatment of uncomplicated, complicated, recurrent UTIs or patients on prolonged antibiotic use. Probiotics do not cause antibiotic resistance and may offer other health benefits due to vaginal re-colonization with Lactobacilli. This study will be conducted to assess the clinical efficacy of probiotic therapy and compare the effect of  probiotic and antibiotic therapy on urogenital microbiota. In this study total 90 women suffering from only recurrent uncomplicated UTIs will be enrolled and divided into three groups. Preliminary, conventionally microbiological culture method will be used for the detection of vaginal flora. The study will use urine only. Personal information will be kept confidential.

Verbal or properly signed written consent will be obtained before collecting any specimen and demographic data. Hopefully the result of this study will help to reduce the inappropriate use of antibiotics and also reduce potentially "illness promoting" dysbiosis  in women suffering from UTIs. It will also open a new alternative treatment therapy. In our understanding, there is no research data available to date in Bangladesh. Our study will contribute in developing baseline data in Bangladesh to study further in this critical area.