Abstract

The traditional concept of “urine is sterile if urine culture and urinalysis are negative” has been overcome by new approaches using 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) that demonstrated the presence of urinary microbiota. This mini-review article provides updated information of the human urinary microbiome related to urogenital tract infections (UTIs) and describes Lactobacillus in the maintenance of urogenital health and prevention of UTIs. The following keywords were used in combination with “Urinary tract symptoms”, “Urogenital symptoms”, and “Probiotics” in a search: “Bacterial Vaginosis”, “Human Microbiome Project”, “Lactobacillus”, “Microbiome”, and “Urinary Tract Infections.” Here, changes in the urinary microbiome and differences in the abundance of Lactobacillus were identified in patients with UTI. Further development of key characteristics of urinary microbiomes that utilize 16S rRNA gene sequencing will play a key role in improving our understanding of urinary health diseases, such as UTIs.

• Keywords: Bacterial vaginosis; Human Microbiome Project; <;i>;Lactobacillus<;/i>;; Microbiota; Urinary tract infections