Antibacterial Activity of Cell-Free Supernatants of Probiotic Lactobacillus against Bacterial Pathogens Associated with Vaginal Infections

Vaginal infections are common female disease conditions that account for the prevalence of gynecological disorders which facilitate the increasing antimicrobial resistance and failure of prevalent treatment choices. In this study, the antibacterial activity of cell free supernatants (CFS) of probiotic Lactobacillus obtained from ogi (fermented maize) was evaluated against bacterial pathogens associated with vaginal infections. Bacterial pathogens isolated from high vaginal (n=22) and endocervical swabs (n=18) were bio-typed and assayed for hemolytic activity, biofilm production, antibacterial susceptibility pattern, and the CFS antagonistic activity. The occurrence of the vaginal bacterial pathogens was 33.0% for Streptococcus spp. and 31.0% for Staphylococcus aureus, with more than 70% resistance rates to amoxicillin, cefotaxime, imipenem/cilastatin, nalidixic acid, nitrofurantoin, cefuroxime, ceftriaxone sulbactam, ampiclox, cefixime and levofloxacin. More than 30% of the isolates produced biofilms. Of the four identified probiotic strains, only CFS from L. plantarum and L. acidophilus exhibited observable antagonistic reaction, with L. plantarum showing higher antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus condimenti, and L. acidophilus against Klebsiella pneumoniae. With the results of this study revealing the antibacterial activity of probiotic Lactobacillus CFS against vaginal bacterial pathogens, probiotic Lactobacillus can be suggested for use as prophylactic and bioprotective agents in the therapeutic management of vaginal bacterial infections and preservation of the vaginal microbiota.