Can the composition of the intestinal microbiota predict the development of urinary tract infections?

Casper D. J. den Heijer*, Suzanne E. Geerlings, Jan M. Prins, Marielle A. J. Beerepoot, Ellen E. Stobberingh, John Penders

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate whether intestinal microbiota predicts the development of new-onset urinary tract infections (UTIs) in postmenopausal women with prior recurrent UTIs (rUTIs). Patients & methods: Fecal samples (n = 40) originated from women with rUTI who received 12 months' prophylaxis of either trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) or lactobacilli. Microbial composition was assessed by 16S rRNA pyrosequencing. Results: At baseline, fecal microbiota of women with zero and more than or equal to four UTIs during follow-up showed no significant differences. Only TMP-SMX prophylaxis resulted in reduced microbial diversity. Microbial structure of two samples from the same woman showed limited relatedness. Conclusion: In postmenopausal women with rUTI, the intestinal microbiota was not predictive for new-onset UTIs. Only TMP-SMX, and not lactobacilli, prophylaxis had effects on the microbial composition. Data in ENA: PRJEB13868.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1394-1404
JournalFuture Microbiology
Volume11
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2016

Keywords

  • 16S rRNA pyrosequencing
  • intestinal microbiota
  • lactobacilli
  • postmenopausal women
  • prophylaxis
  • trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole
  • urinary tract infection

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