Vaccine could halt recurrent UTIs over the long term - study

Getty/Pornpak Khunatorn

By Jane Collingwood

An oral vaccine spray may prevent recurring urinary tract infections for up to nine years, a study suggests.

The vaccine, known as Uromune or MV140, "shows great promise as an alternative to conventional treatments for preventing recurrent UTIs", say Mr Bob Yang, consultant urologist at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, and colleagues.

Presenting the work at the European Association of Urology Congress in Paris, the researchers explained: "UTI is a debilitating condition which impacts 50% of women, with recurrent infections developing in 20-30% of cases.

"Uromune, a once-a-day polybacterial sublingual vaccine composed of inactivated whole bacteria, has exhibited encouraging outcomes in UK patients".

Over half of the study's male and female participants with recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), remained symptom-free for nine years after the vaccine, with no serious side effects.

The team's original trial, published in 2017, looked at outcomes for 75 women after vaccination treatment was complete. Among these women, 78% had no UTIs in the following year, compared to a typical rate of three to four episodes.