[Ionic solutions and possibilities of prevention of recurrent cystitis]

In view of the importance of the phenomenon of adhesion of bacteria to urothelial cells in the pathogenesis of urinary tract infections, the authors investigated the possibility of decreasing this adhesion by means of a complex ionic solution: La Preste mineral water

The in vitro adhesion of Escherichia coli P-fimbriae (Gal-Gal pili) to urothelial cells in women with recurrent cystitis was compared in neutral medium and in mineral water and the interaction of this same micro-organism with microparticles coated with Gal-Gal receptors was also studied in the same media. In vivo, urothelial cells of 13 women with a normal urological assessment, presenting recurrent cystitis and a high adhesion capacity, were tested three times a day in relation to the same micro-organism on the first and last day of their course of mineral water therapy

In vitro, pretreatment of urothelial cells by mineral water induced decreased adhesion (p=0.001), while pretreatment of bacteria with the same mineral water had no effect. In vivo, adhesion was significantly (p=0.021) decreased 2 to 3 hours after ingestion of mineral water and a significant global reduction of adhesion (p=0.016) was observed between the first and last day of mineral water therapy.

These data show a reduction of adhesion (type P) between Escherichia coli and urothelial cells in the presence of La Preste mineral water, due to an action on urothelial cells. These results indicate the probable role of sulphur and silica in this process, while modulation of adhesion by ions has only been demonstrated to date for calcium and magnesium.