Recurrent UTIs banished for up to nine years by simple oral spray

An oral spray vaccine against recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) prevented the condition from returning for up to nine years in more than half of study participants, new research has shown. It offers a safe, effective method of UTI prevention and an alternative to antibiotic treatment.

Recurrent UTIs – defined as three or more UTIs in 12 months – occur in 20% to 30% of cases. Women are affected more than men simply because of their anatomy, with 80-85% of infections caused by the bacteria Escherichia coli. Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus vulgaris, and Enterococcus faecalis are other culprits. For this reason, antibiotics are often the first-line treatment. However, with the rise in antibiotic resistance, there’s a pressing need to find an effective alternative.

That’s where MV140, a new vaccine to treat recurrent UTIs in women and men, comes in. Sold as Uromune, the vaccine is made from inactivated versions of the four bugs listed above, stimulating the immune system to generate long-term protection against UTIs.

And, best of all, it’s not an injection; it’s a pineapple-flavored spray that’s delivered under the tongue each day for three months. A recent study led by clinicians at the UK’s Royal Berkshire Hospital has demonstrated that it can be effective for up to nine years.

Image source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, CDC, Wikimedia Commons.