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April 12, 2002

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"UW Tests Vaccine for Bladder Infection"

Madison Capital Times (WI) (www.captimes.com) (04/11/02) P. 1F; Elsing, Debra Carr

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW) are working on a new vaccine that may prevent recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) in the 10 percent to 15 percent of women who experience multiple infections annually.  Dr. David Uehling, a urologist and professor of surgery at UW, says that about 50 percent of women will experience a UTI at least once, and he notes that some bladder infections can lead to critical kidney infections.  The vaccine, which is made up of 10 strains of heat-killed bacteria that cause most UTIs, is being tested with an initial set of treatments, followed by monthly boosters. Uehling noted that while the vaccine is not "all-protective, and it's not a panacea," it does help a significant number of women. Preliminary test results show that over half of the women who received the initial vaginal suppository vaccine and three booster treatments did not experience new infections, while 89 percent of the women who received placebos did.

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