The average woman has to deal with urinary tract infections now and then. Beyond the general trouble this causes for the average woman, it is a major reason for health-related expenses in women.
There are lots of bacterial infections in polyclinic patients. Urinary tract infection, however, is the most occurring of these infections. In the US alone, 11% of females over the age of 18 have to deal with UTI at least once a year. Furthermore, this occurrence is most pronounced among women between 18 and 24. While UTI has lots of features, the likelihood of it recurring is its most pronounced feature.
After a healthy woman has an episode of UTI, the likelihood of it occurring again is 24% between women at the age of 18 and 29. Additionally, 5% of women that experience UTI may have to deal with several episodes in one year. While the average woman can be affected by UTI, women that have a history of this infection are more likely to suffer from it.
Treating UTIs with Antibiotics
UTIs are treated with antibiotics. However, treating them with antibiotics leads to an increase in antibiotic resistance among certain bacteria in the body and uropathogenic microorganisms.
Over the years repeatedly treating women affected by UTI with antibiotics has led to an increase in antibiotic resistance. It has also had a major effect on the body’s normal microbiota.
Due to the unwanted effect of antibiotics used in treating UTIs, a second approach has been discovered and this approach is anti-biotic free. This approach involves the use of various forms of treatments and the use of probiotics is one of them.
What are Probiotics?
In its simplest form, a probiotic is a microorganism that is useful to the body. When taken in the right Quantity, probiotics have a good effect on the physiology and health of an individual.
Probiotics can be gotten from food supplements, as well as from regular foods. Furthermore, for probiotics to have the right effect on the body, they have to be resistant to bile and gastric acid.
When using probiotics for UTI treatments, they have to contain lactobacillus species. Additionally, they can function by producing vitamins, immune modulators, the prevention of the adhesion of pathogens, undergoing collaborative activities with the immune system of the host, and acidifying the mucosal surface.
There are various types of lactobacillus species. Some of them are known for the production of biosurfactants and hydrogen peroxide that play a role in acidifying vaginal mucosa. Due to this property of Lactobacillus species, they are ideal for the treatment of UTIs.
What is the Relationship between Probiotics and Antibiotics?
Lactobacilli have the ability to stop the colonization, growth, and adherence of uropathogenic bacteria. Over the years, it has been proven that the presence of healthy Lactobacillus species can inhibit the actions of E.coli. When infections are treated with the use of antibiotics, drug abuse is reduced. This makes the urinary system’s natural barrier open to various infections. It also leads to an increase in drug resistance.
Going by this, the treatment of UTI by just probiotics or antibiotics will not be as effective as the use of probiotics and antibiotics in treating UTIs.
When used together in treating UTIs, probiotic and antibiotic treatments should not exceed 2-4 hours. This way viable microorganisms that live in the gastrointestinal tract can be kept from being damaged.
Probiotics and UTIs
More often than not recurrent UTIs in women take place when uropathogenic E.coli is present. When antibiotics are used in treating these infections they bring about a reduction in the number of lactobacilli present in the urinary system. This could lead to antibiotic resistance. That’s not all. It could also cause a disruption of the urinary system’s natural barrier that puts out infections.
Although antibiotic therapy can be used in treating UTIs, a study by Zucotti et al revealed that probiotics could come in handy as a good replacement for antibiotic therapy. This is due to the fact that they can attach to uropithelial cells. When they do this, they can stop biosurfactant secretion and pathogenic growth.
How Long Should Probiotics be used in Treating UTI in Women?
Now that it is established that probiotics can be used in treating UTIs in women, it is important to know the right dose of probiotics that should be used.
According to studies, when probiotics are used in treating Urinary tract infections in women, they should be used for 5 to 12 days.
