Table 3 Colonisation with lactobacilli: number of women colonised and frequency of isolation during follow-up

Either of the probiotic strains

Group 1

5/13 (39%)

12/75 (16%)

Group 2

10/12 (83%)

p = 0.041 (vs Gr. 1)*

25/69 (36%)

p  = 0.007 (vs Gr. 1)*

Group 3

0/14 (0%)

p = 0.0159 (vs Gr. 1)*

0/71 (0%)

p  = 0.0003 (vs Gr. 1)*

p = 0.0001 (vs Gr. 2)*

p  < 0.0001 (vs Gr. 2)*

L. rhamnosus

Group 1

3/13 (23%)

10/75 (13%)

Group 2

9/12 (75%)

p = 0.017 (vs Gr. 1)*

21/69 (30%)

p = 0.015 (vs Gr. 1)*

Group 3

0/14 (0%)

P > 0.05 (vs Gr. 1)

0/71 (0%)

p = 0.0015 (vs Gr. 1)*

P = 0.0001 (vs Gr. 2)*

p < 0.0001 (vs Gr. 2)*

L. gasseri

Group 1

2/13 (15%)

4/75 (5%)

Group 2

8/12 (67%)

p = 0.015 (vs Gr. 1)*

13/69 (19%)

p = 0.018 (vs Gr. 1)*

Group 3

0/14 (0%)

P > 0.05 (vs Gr. 1)

0/71 (0%)

p  > 0.05 (vs Gr. 1)

p = 0.0003 (vs Gr. 2)*

p  < 0.0001 (vs Gr. 2)*

Other lactobacilli

Group 1

12/13 (92%)

53/75 (71%)

Group 2

12/12 (100%)

p > 0.05 (vs Gr. 1)

39/69 (57%)

p > 0.05 (vs Gr. 1)

Group 3

12/14 (86%)

p > 0.05 (vs Gr. 1)

35/71 (49%)

p = 0.011 (vs Gr. 1)*

p > 0.05 (vs Gr. 2)

p > 0.05 (vs Gr. 2)

Any lactobacilli

Group 1

13/13 (100%)

59/75 (78%)

Group 2

12/12 (100%)

p > 0.05 (vs Gr. 1)

53/69 (77%)

p > 0.05 (vs Gr. 1)

Group 3

12/14 (86%)

p > 0.05 (vs Gr. 1)

35/71 (49%)

p = 0.0003 (vs Gr. 1)*

p > 0.05 (vs Gr. 2)

p = 0.0009 (vs Gr. 2)*