Jeremy P Dwyer
Evid Based Med. 2013;18(4):141-142.

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is common; over half of all adult women will have a UTI, with a third having recurrent UTI. Women at higher risk of developing recurrence are older, postmenopausal, and incontinent and have cystocoeles with high postvoid residual volumes.[1] Preventative strategies using prophylactic antibiotics may result in adverse side effects, antibiotic resistance and Clostridium difficile colitis. Therefore, women are increasingly looking for safe and effective non-antimicrobial alternatives. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised studies of products containing cranberry showed a protective effect against UTI, particularly in women with recurrent UTIs, children and subjects using products containing cranberry more than twice daily.[2] Intravaginal oestrogens have also been found to reduce the number of UTIs in postmenopausal women with recurrent UTIs presumably by increasing intravaginal lactobacillus counts and decreasing uropathogenic bacteria.[3] A recent study using Lactobacillus probiotics by oral administration restored vaginal lactobacilli flora and reduced colonisation of bacterial pathogens.[4]

Full Text Article:  http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/807564