Compound and method for prevention and/or treatment of vaginal infections
First Claim
1. A method of treatment of a vaginal infection which comprises administering topically to a subject in need of prevention or treatment a therapeutically effective amount of xylitol.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a method for treating and/or preventing vaginal infections, such as bacterial vaginosis, by administering xylitol to a subject in need of treatment. A composition containing xylitol for treating vaginal infections is also disclosed. It has been found that xylitol is capable of selectively inhibiting the growth of Gardnerella vaginalis, the main pathogen in bacterial vaginosis, while not inhibiting the growth of Lactobacillus acidophilus, the dominant bacteria in a healthy vaginal ecosystem. Xylitol, a natural five-carbon sugar polyol, is safe and cost-effective, and can be used alone or incorporated into different vaginal health products to treat and/or prevent bacterial vaginosis.
79 Citations
20 Claims
- 1. A method of treatment of a vaginal infection which comprises administering topically to a subject in need of prevention or treatment a therapeutically effective amount of xylitol.
- 8. A composition for preventing or treating a vaginal infection, which comprises a therapeutically effective amount of xylitol.
- 16. The use of xylitol in a method of making a medicament for use in a method of preventing or treating a vaginal infection comprising administering topically a therapeutically effective amount of the xylitol to a patient in need thereof.
Specification