Lactobacillus Colonization Status In Infants With Urinary Tract Infection

Main Category: Urology / Nephrology
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health;  Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses
Article Date: 03 Nov 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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UroToday.com - This study from Korea evaluated the potential protective role of lactobacillus agents to help colonize and help prevent urinary tract infections.

The group collected lactobacillus cultures on stool and urine specimens as well as periurethral and vaginal swabs of infants who had febrile urinary tract infections. The lactobacilli were anaerobically cultured in a lactobacillus-specific agar for 48 hours at 37 degrees and then counted. The lactobacillus colony counts for the stool and urine specimens, as well as the swabs from the UTI group, were significantly lower than those of the control group. The control group was comprised of infants who did not have febrile urinary tract infections.

They performed this study in a prospective case-controlled manner, concluding that reduced lactobacillus urogenital colonization in infants with urinary tract infections is apparent. They claim their results support the view that less urogenital lactobacillus colonization might be a risk factor for urinary tract infection in infants. They do acknowledge that it is unclear whether the UTIs are themselves the cause of lower lactobacillus colonies or if it is primarily just a colonization issue.

Since lactobacillus is a benign bacteria and a part of our natural flora, colonization with lactobacillus appears to be promising.

Lee JW, Shim YH, Lee SJ
Pediatr Nephrol. 2008 Sep 10. Epub ahead of print.
doi:10.1007/s00467-008-0974-z

Written by UroToday.com Medical Editor Pasquale Casale, MD

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