The Vaginal Microbiome and Recurrent and Chronic Urinary Tract Infection
Abstract
The vaginal and urinary microbiomes are closely linked, yet the role of this relationship in recurrent and chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs) remains uncertain. Research into genitourinary ecology and UTI has largely focused on acute infections and reproductive age groups, leaving a gap in understanding the role of the microbiome in recurrent and chronic cases. This review is aimed at presenting that disruptions within vaginal microbiota contribute to UTI chronicity in menopausal women, highlighting the potential for microbiome-targeted interventions in this high-risk group. A comprehensive literature review was conducted, with search terms including cystitis, urogenital, antibiotic, infection, and bladder, vaginal microbiome, vaginal ecology, topical oestrogen, atrophy, genitourinary syndrome of menopause, vulvo-vaginal atrophy (VVA), bacterial vaginosis and lactobacillus. Relevant articles were screened, critiqued, and synthesised based on key themes. Lactobacillus spp. appears to be the key component of a healthy vaginal microbiome. Decreased vaginal Lactobacillus abundance, seen with vaginal dysbioses and the menopause, correlates with an increased presence of urinary pathogens, increasing susceptibility to UTI. This review demonstrates that interventions to optimise vaginal ecology could reduce UTI burden. These approaches offer non-antibiotic treatment strategies, lowering antimicrobial resistance risk. However, studies frequently exclude those with chronic and…
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