The present invention relates to a novel strain of Lactobacillus fermentum, denoted strain Ess-1, which has been deposited at Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH and has been assigned accession number DSM17851. Lactobacillus fermentum, strain Ess-1, has shown valuable properties in the inhibition of Candida. The invention therefore also relates to the medical use of Lactobacillus fermentum strain Ess-1, in particular for the treatment and/or prevention of candidasis and urinary tract infections. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical products and articles comprising this novel bacterial strain.