£2 million NHS trial will aim to find most effective treatment for debilitating drug-resistant bladder infections

An NHS trial will attempt to find the most effective treatment for debilitating drug-resistant bladder infections.

The £2million study will involve more than 400 women who struggle with urinary tract infections (UTIs) which repeatedly return.

Often causing pain or a burning sensation while peeing, as well as lower stomach or back pain, UTIs are common – nearly half of all women in the UK will have one in their lifetime.

Most can be successfully treated with antibiotics, but some prove more difficult to clear up.

About half a million women in the UK get recurrent UTIs – defined as at least three repeated infections per year or two in six months. These can be disruptive to daily life and can sometimes require a catheter to medicate the bladder.

 Most UTIs can be successfully treated with antibiotics, but some prove more difficult to clear up (Stock image)

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust trial will examine three treatment options.  

Patients will be randomly allocated to different courses of treatment for six months. Some will be given gentamicin – a strong antibiotic applied directly to the bladder – while others will receive a standard low dose of antibiotics.

The third group will receive an experimental treatment called glycosaminoglycan (GAG) – a sugar compound applied to the lining of the bladder to stop bacteria from sticking to it. 

The trial will also examine the types of bacteria found in the bladder and their resistance to antibiotics.

‘Antibiotic resistance is a global problem, and we need to continue to explore alternative options,’ says Professor Chris Harding, consultant urological surgeon at the Freeman Hospital and the study’s leader.

‘We hope that this trial will provide much-needed information on the best treatment for recurrent UTIs and help determine which is the most cost-effective for the NHS.’