The gut, vaginal, and urine microbiome in overactive bladder: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The objective was to systemically review the current literature on the association of gut, vaginal, and urinary dysbiosis in female patients with overactive bladder (OAB). METHODS: We performed a comprehensive literature search following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) protocols for systematic reviews. In the EMBASE, CINAHL, and Medline databases, a search was conducted using key words such as "microbiome," "microbiota," "microflora," "overactive bladder," "urge," "gut," "vaginal." Articles were screened using the online tool www.covidence.org . Two independent reviewers screened studies at each stage and resolved conflicts together. We excluded papers that discussed pediatric patients and animal studies. In total, 13 articles met this criterion, which included 6 abstracts. RESULTS: After identifying 817 unique references, 13 articles met the criteria for data extraction. Articles were published from 2017 to 2021. No study reported the same microbiota abundance, even in healthy individuals. Overall, there was a loss of bacterial diversity in OAB patients compared with controls. Additionally, the bacterial composition of the controls and OAB patients was not significantly different, especially if the urine was collected midstream. Overall, the composition of the microbiome is dependent on the specimen collection methodology, and the metagenomic sequencing technique utilized. OAB urine microbiome is more predisposed to alteration from the gut or vaginal influences than in controls. CONCLUSIONS: Current evidence suggested a potential relationship among gut, vaginal, and urinary microbiome in OAB patients, but there are very limited studies.

COVID-19 and urology: a comprehensive review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the impact of COVID-19 on global health, particularly on urological practice and to review some of the available recommendations reported in the literature. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the current narrative review the PubMed database was searched to identify all the related reports discussing the impact of COVID-19 on the urological field. RESULTS: The COVID-19 pandemic is the latest and biggest global health threat. Medical and surgical priorities have changed dramatically to cope with the current challenge. These changes include postponements of all elective outpatient visits and surgical procedures to save facilities and resources for urgent cases and patients with COVID-19 patients. This review discuss some of the related changes in urology. CONCLUSIONS: Over the coming weeks, healthcare workers including urologists will be facing increasingly difficult challenges, and consequently, they should adopt triage strategy to avoid wasting of medical resources and they should endorse sufficient protection policies to guard against infection when dealing with COVID-19 patients.