Abstract

CAMPINHO, Lucélia Cristina Pedras; SANTOS, Susana Margarida Vilar  and  AZEVEDO, Alexandra Cardoso. Probiotics in women with vulvovaginal candidiasis: what is the evidence?. Rev Port Med Geral Fam [online]. 2019, vol.35, n.6, pp.465-468. ISSN 2182-5173.  https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v35i6.12116.

Vulvovaginal candidiasis is one of the most common forms of female genital infection, affecting 75% of women at least once in their lifetime. It is associated with an imbalance of the vaginal microflora due to the consequent quantitative and/or qualitative alteration of the Lactobacillus and overgrowth of other vaginal mucosa commensals, namely Candida albicans. Probiotics, which contain Lactobacillus, are often used to treat and prevent vulvovaginal candidiasis. The purpose of this review is to determine, in light of current evidence, whether probiotics contribute to the prevention and treatment of women with vulvovaginal candidiasis. We conducted a survey of clinical guidelines, meta-analyses, systematic reviews, and randomized controlled trials published between March 2007 and March 2017 in Portuguese and English. The search used the MeSH terms ‘Vulvovaginal Candidiasis’ and ‘Probiotics’. To assess the levels of evidence and assignment of strength of recommendation was used the Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy scale. The search resulted in 22 articles, two of which were included. The rest were excluded because they did not meet the inclusion criteria, due to repetition or were not accessible. The articles included are two clinical guidelines that concluded that the use of probiotics in the treatment and/or prevention of vulvovaginal candidiasis, both with A strength, is not recommended. Further high-quality studies in this area are considered necessary to support the evidence found in the formulation of the recommendations.

Keywords : Candidiasis vulvovaginal; Probiotics.

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