Study Finds Probiotic Treatment Not Effective in Preventing Vaginal Inflammations

I've reported several times [see this, this, this and this article] on the antibiotic properties of Lactobacillus probiotic bacteria, as I'm all for using natural means to fight nasty bacteria. However, there's a new report on an instance in which Lactobacillus didn't work -- this time, against a pathogen responsible for a common female complaint.

Doctors and pharmacies in Melbourne, Australia worked with 235 women from 2001-03, to see if Lactobacillus would help prevent vaginal inflammation usually caused by Candida albicans. According to a press release:
Overall, 23% of women developed vulvovaginitis after antibiotics. Compared with placebo, probiotic treatments were ineffective in preventing vulvovaginitis. In fact, the trial was stopped early because it was considered unethical to continue with no potential benefit.

See this PDF file for much more detail.