Volume 8, Issue 3 (Accepted manuscript 2026)
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Valizadeh M. The Role of Probiotics in the Management of Urinary Tract Infections in Children: A Review of Preclinical and Clinical Evidence. pbp 2026; 8 (3)
URL: http://pbp.medilam.ac.ir/article-1-431-en.html
URL: http://pbp.medilam.ac.ir/article-1-431-en.html
Department of Pediatric Disease, School of Medicine, Shahid Motahari Hospital, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran , mohammad_k_v@yahoo.com
Abstract: (5 Views)
Objective: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common bacterial infections in childhood and, if not diagnosed promptly and treated appropriately, may lead to permanent renal scarring and impaired kidney function. In recent years, probiotics have emerged as a promising adjunctive strategy for the prevention and management of UTIs because of their favourable safety profile and their capacity to modulate both the urinary and intestinal microbiota. This review aimed to critically evaluate the current preclinical and clinical evidence regarding the therapeutic and preventive potential of probiotics in paediatric UTIs.
Methods: A narrative literature review was conducted using studies published between 2010 and 2026. Electronic searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Eligible experimental, preclinical, clinical, systematic review, and meta-analysis studies investigating the effects of probiotic interventions on the prevention or treatment of UTIs in children were identified, screened, and narratively synthesised according to study design and reported outcomes.
Results: Evidence from experimental and clinical studies consistently identified Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus plantarum PCS26, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Bifidobacterium bifidum, and Bifidobacterium lactis as the probiotic strains with the greatest therapeutic potential. When administered as an adjunct to conventional antibiotic therapy, these probiotics were associated with reduced UTI recurrence, a lower incidence of febrile UTIs, and improved recurrence-free survival. Furthermore, findings from systematic reviews and meta-analyses indicate that species belonging to the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium currently provide the strongest evidence for the prevention of recurrent paediatric UTIs. Nevertheless, substantial heterogeneity in probiotic strains, dosages, treatment duration, and study methodologies has limited the development of evidence-based, standardised treatment protocols.
Conclusion: Current evidence suggests that probiotics, particularly species of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, represent a safe and promising adjunctive approach for reducing recurrence and enhancing the prevention of urinary tract infections in children. However, well-designed mechanistic studies, animal experiments, and large-scale randomised controlled trials are still required to determine the optimal probiotic strains, dosing regimens, and treatment duration before these interventions can be routinely incorporated into paediatric clinical practice.
Methods: A narrative literature review was conducted using studies published between 2010 and 2026. Electronic searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Eligible experimental, preclinical, clinical, systematic review, and meta-analysis studies investigating the effects of probiotic interventions on the prevention or treatment of UTIs in children were identified, screened, and narratively synthesised according to study design and reported outcomes.
Results: Evidence from experimental and clinical studies consistently identified Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus plantarum PCS26, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Bifidobacterium bifidum, and Bifidobacterium lactis as the probiotic strains with the greatest therapeutic potential. When administered as an adjunct to conventional antibiotic therapy, these probiotics were associated with reduced UTI recurrence, a lower incidence of febrile UTIs, and improved recurrence-free survival. Furthermore, findings from systematic reviews and meta-analyses indicate that species belonging to the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium currently provide the strongest evidence for the prevention of recurrent paediatric UTIs. Nevertheless, substantial heterogeneity in probiotic strains, dosages, treatment duration, and study methodologies has limited the development of evidence-based, standardised treatment protocols.
Conclusion: Current evidence suggests that probiotics, particularly species of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, represent a safe and promising adjunctive approach for reducing recurrence and enhancing the prevention of urinary tract infections in children. However, well-designed mechanistic studies, animal experiments, and large-scale randomised controlled trials are still required to determine the optimal probiotic strains, dosing regimens, and treatment duration before these interventions can be routinely incorporated into paediatric clinical practice.
Type of Study: Review/Systemtic review |
Subject:
Biotechnology
Received: 2026/04/28 | Accepted: 2026/09/28 | Published: 2026/01/11
Received: 2026/04/28 | Accepted: 2026/09/28 | Published: 2026/01/11
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