Effect of Probiotics on Recurrent Vaginal Candidiasis Infection

Vaginal candidiasis is the second most common after bacterial vaginosis. It is accepted that 5%–10% of women with vaginal candidiasis are exposed to recurrent infections. For the case to be considered recurrent, it must have had at least four symptomatic attacks within 12 months. In the treatment of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis, suppressive and preventive treatment of episodes is recommended rather than individual treatment of episodes. Increasing drug resistance and drug side effects that may develop in long-term use make it necessary to consider alternative options in the treatment of recurrent vaginitis. Probiotics are nonpathogenic microorganisms that regulate microbial balance, especially in the gastrointestinal tract, and they can also be considered as a useful alternative in the treatment of recurrent candida. These agents regulate the immunoresponse of the host by reducing the invasion and colonization of pathogenic microorganisms by lowering the pH in their region. The aim of this review was to investigate the effectiveness of local probiotic use following conventional topical azole treatment on preventing recurrence of recurrent vaginal candida infections.