PEOPLE suffering from recurring urinary tract infections (UTIs) could soon get a jab that stops the agonising condition.
Scientists discovered the “groundbreaking” treatment can prevent infections for up to nine years in more than half of patients.
The jab is given as a pineapple-flavoured oral sprayAlamy
Up to 1.7million Brits – the majority being women – suffer from recurrent UTIs – classed as two or more infections in six months.
Symptoms usually include pain or a burning sensation when peeing, needing to pee more often than usual and stomach pain.
The infections can be dangerous, particularly for older people, causing irregular heartbeat and high blood pressure and triggering potentially lethal falls.
In hospitals, the death rate for UTs is around four in 100, making up 6,000 deaths a year.
It rises to one in 10 for people aged 95 and over, as it can often develop into sepsis and make dementia worse.
Most cases require short-term antibiotic treatment.
However, these drugs are becoming less effective as antibiotic-resistant infections increase.
The jab, called MV140, is given as a pineapple-flavoured oral spray and could be given as an alternative to these antibiotics.
It contains four types of inactivated bacteria – which means they cannot infect the body and make someone ill – including E. Coli, the most common cause of a UTI.
The recent study, conducted at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, followed 89 participants with recurrent UTIs who were given MV140.
It was sprayed under the tongue by a GP every day for three months and followed up with the patients for nine years.
The findings presented this weekend at the European Association of Urology (EAU) Congress in Paris, revealed that 54 per cent of participants have not had a UTI since they took the vaccine.
On average, people went four-and-a-half years without getting an infection.
And of those who did develop a UTI they tended only to suffer only minor symptoms.
The results are expected to be passed to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) before the vaccine can be used in the NHS.
Up to 1.7million Brits suffer from recurrent UTIsGetty – Contributor
‘This vaccine is a potential breakthrough in preventing UTIs‘
Dr Bob Yang, consultant urologist at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, who co-led the research, said: “Before having the vaccine, all our participants suffered from recurrent UTIs, and for many women, these can be difficult to treat.
“Nine years after first receiving this new UTI vaccine, around half of the participants remained infection-free.
“Overall, this vaccine is safe in the long term, and our participants reported having fewer, less severe UTIs.
“Many of those who did get a UTI told us that simply drinking plenty of water was enough to treat it.
“Many of our participants told us that having the vaccine restored their quality of life.”
Gernot Bonkat, chairman of the EAU Guidelines on Urological Infections, said: “These findings are promising.
“Recurrent UTIs are a substantial economic burden, and the overuse of antibiotic treatments can lead to antibiotic-resistant infections.
“This follow-up study reveals encouraging data about the long-term safety and effectiveness of the MV140 vaccine.
“While we need to be pragmatic, this vaccine is a potential breakthrough in preventing UTIs and could offer a safe and effective alternative to conventional treatments.”
What are UTIs?
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are usually caused by E.coli bacteria – found in poo – entering the urinary tract.
The bacteria enter through the tube that carries pee out of the body (urethra).
Women are more likely than men to pick up UTIs as they have a shorter urethra than men.
This means bacteria are more likely to reach the bladder or kidneys and cause an infection.
According to the NHS, things that increase the risk of bacteria getting into the bladder include:
Having sex
Pregnancy
Conditions that block the urinary tract – such as kidney stones
conditions that make it difficult to fully empty the bladder – such as an enlarged prostate in men and constipation in children
Urinary catheters (a tube in your bladder used to drain urine)
Having a weakened immune system – for example, people with diabetes or people having chemotherapy
Not drinking enough fluids
Not keeping the genital area clean and dry
Check if it’s a UTI
Symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI) may include:
Pain or a burning sensation when peeing (dysuria)
Needing to pee more often than usual
Needing to pee more often than usual during the night (nocturia)
Needing to pee suddenly or more urgently than usual
Pee that looks cloudy
Blood in your pee
Lower tummy pain or pain in your back, just under the ribs
A high temperature, or feeling hot and shivery
A very low temperature below 36C
Your pee may also be dark or smell. If this is your only symptom, it might be because you’ve not been drinking enough water.
What to do if you think you have a UTI
If you think you have UTI symptoms, you should speak to your GP to discuss treatment options.
Most people will need antibiotics.
Some people may be prescribed a ‘delayed antibiotic’, meaning they’ll be asked only to use it if their symptoms don’t go away after a certain amount of time.
If you keep getting UTIs, your GP might recommend you have a low dose of antibiotics over a long period of time or refer you to a specialist for more tests and treatments.
For women who have gone through menopause, there is evidence that vaginal oestrogen creams can reduce UTI symptoms.
Source: NHS
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