Effect of use of probiotic lactic acid bacteria on the vaginal microbiota of patients with bacterial and fungal infections

• Grant number: 06/06595-2
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: November 01, 2007 - October 31, 2009
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal researcher: Elaine Cristina Pereira de Martinis
• Grantee: Elaine Cristina Pereira de Martinis
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The normal vaginal microbiota is mainly formed by lactobacilli species, which represent a natural barrier against microorganisms that cause bacterial vaginosis, vulvovaginal candidiasis and urinary tract infections. These diseases affect ca. 1 billion people worldwide. It has been proposed the use of probiotic cultures to colonize the vaginal region and to prevent the occurence of these infections. The probiotics do not present colateral effects common to traditional antibacterial and antifungal agents, which include destruction of authoctonous vaginal microbiota and predisposition to recurrent infections, besides nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, etc. In this project we will study women with vulvovaginal candidiasis and bacterial vaginosis treated at Centro de Saúde Escola (CSE) Sumarezinho - Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, in the city of Ribeirão Preto. The patients will donate vaginal samples that will be used for microscopic examination, to aid the final diagnosis. All women will be treated with traditional therapy and adittionally, one sub group of patients will use the probiotic (Urex-Cap-5, Christian Hansen, which contain two strains of lactobacilli - Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus fermentum RC-14), while other sub group will receive placebo. The vaginal samples will be screened for lactobacilli species and Candida, by the use of biochemical and/or molecular techniques. The cure rates will be determined and compared among groups of patients. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MARTINEZ, R. C. R.; FRANCESCHINI, S. A.; PATTA, M. C.; QUINTANA, S. M.; CANDIDO, R. C.; FERREIRA, J. C.; DE MARTINIS, E. C. P.; REID, G. Improved treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis with fluconazole plus probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14. Letters in Applied Microbiology, v. 48, n. 3, p. 269-274, MAR 2009. Web of Science Citations: 61.

MARTINEZ, RAFAEL C. R.; FRANCESCHINI, SILVIO A.; PATTA, MARISTELA C.; QUINTANA, SILVANA M.; GOMES, BRUNA C.; DE MARTINIS, ELAINE C. P.; REID, GREGOR. Improved cure of bacterial vaginosis with single dose of tinidazole (2 g), Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1, and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Canadian Journal of Microbiology, v. 55, n. 2, p. 133-138, FEB 2009. Web of Science Citations: 73.

ARTINEZ, RAFAEL C. R. M.; FRANCESCHINI, SILVIO A.; PATTA, MARISTELA C.; QUINTANA, SILVANA M.; NUNE, ALVARO C.; MOREIRA, JODO L. S.; ANUKARN, KINGSLEY C.; REID, GREGOR; DE MARTINIS, ELAINE C. P. Analysis of vaginal lactobacilli from healthy and infected Brazilian women. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, v. 74, n. 14, p. 4539-4542, JUL 2008. Web of Science Citations: 23.