Date of Presentation
5-4-2023 12:00 AM
College
School of Osteopathic Medicine
Poster Abstract
Background: Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is a condition where pathogens invade the urinary tract and can travel up the urethra and into the bladder. UTIs occur more commonly in females compared to males and in the post-menopausal population this rate increases significantly. While these infections may be asymptomatic, they can also cause severe discomfort and lead to serious and even life threatening complications. Recent investigation into the vaginal microbiome has opened the doors to a possible mechanism behind the increased incidence of UTIs after menopause. Understanding the pathogenesis behind the increased risk of UTIs in the postmenopausal state will allow for improved prevention and treatment of UTIs in this population.
Methods: This literature review utilized PubMed and Embase as primary databases. Search terms included: vaginal microbiome, urinary tract infections, post-menopause, UTI complications, antibiotic resistance, estrogen replacement therapy, Lactobacillus, topical estrogen, estrogen replacement therapy, and probiotics.
Results: This review found that the decreased levels of estrogen are associated with lower levels of Lactobacilli, an immunoprotective bacteria in the vaginal microbiome, and that this decrease in Lactobacilli contributes to increased susceptibility to invasion by pathogens. While methods to restore Lactobacilli levels lack an abundance of research, the current literature indicates that methods such as estrogen replacement therapy and probiotics targeting the vaginal microbiome in the post-menopausal state hold promise for the improvement of care and prevention of UTIs .
Conclusion: Further research into the efficacy of treatment modalities such as estrogen replacement therapy and probiotics is needed in order to better understand the mechanisms by which they improve the vaginal microbiome as well as the impact they would have on lowering the rates of UTIs and associated complications in the postmenopausal population.
Keywords
Urinary Tract Infections, Vagina, Microbiota, Postmenopause, Women's Health
Disciplines
Bacterial Infections and Mycoses | Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications | Medicine and Health Sciences | Obstetrics and Gynecology | Urogenital System | Urology | Women's Health
Document Type
Poster
Included in
Bacterial Infections and Mycoses Commons, Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications Commons, Obstetrics and Gynecology Commons, Urogenital System Commons, Urology Commons, Women's Health Commons
The Vaginal Microbiome Post-Menopause and Urinary Tract Infections
Background: Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is a condition where pathogens invade the urinary tract and can travel up the urethra and into the bladder. UTIs occur more commonly in females compared to males and in the post-menopausal population this rate increases significantly. While these infections may be asymptomatic, they can also cause severe discomfort and lead to serious and even life threatening complications. Recent investigation into the vaginal microbiome has opened the doors to a possible mechanism behind the increased incidence of UTIs after menopause. Understanding the pathogenesis behind the increased risk of UTIs in the postmenopausal state will allow for improved prevention and treatment of UTIs in this population.
Methods: This literature review utilized PubMed and Embase as primary databases. Search terms included: vaginal microbiome, urinary tract infections, post-menopause, UTI complications, antibiotic resistance, estrogen replacement therapy, Lactobacillus, topical estrogen, estrogen replacement therapy, and probiotics.
Results: This review found that the decreased levels of estrogen are associated with lower levels of Lactobacilli, an immunoprotective bacteria in the vaginal microbiome, and that this decrease in Lactobacilli contributes to increased susceptibility to invasion by pathogens. While methods to restore Lactobacilli levels lack an abundance of research, the current literature indicates that methods such as estrogen replacement therapy and probiotics targeting the vaginal microbiome in the post-menopausal state hold promise for the improvement of care and prevention of UTIs .
Conclusion: Further research into the efficacy of treatment modalities such as estrogen replacement therapy and probiotics is needed in order to better understand the mechanisms by which they improve the vaginal microbiome as well as the impact they would have on lowering the rates of UTIs and associated complications in the postmenopausal population.