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Vaccine Shown to Prevent Urinary Tract Infections

By Henry J. Fishman, M.D.
ConsumerAffairs.com

February 20, 2006

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For the first time, a vaccine shows promise in preventing recurrent urinary tract infections, a problem faced by millions of women, according to a report presented at the American Society of Microbiology meeting.

Doctors took ten strains of E. coli, the bacteria that causes most infections, and other germs and placed them on a vaginal suppository.

They expected the woman's immune system would attack the bacteria on the body's surface and prevent them from spreading to the bladder or kidney, and in fact it did.

Researchers tested the vaccine in 54 women for six months. half got a monthly vaccine suppository and half got a placebo. None of the vaccinated women got infections, versus 20 percent who got the placebo.

Obviously, the vaccine requires more research but it generates hopes that someday, women will be able to prevent urinary tract infections rather than suffering or using recurrent antibiotics.

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