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February 13, 2002

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

“Experimental Vaccine for Recurrent UTIs”

Journal of the American Medical Association Online (www.jama.com)

(02/13/02) Vol. 287, No. 6; Stephenson, Joan

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin Medical School in Madison say that a new experimental vaccine may prevent recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) in susceptible women.  Between 10 percent and 15 percent of adult women suffer from recurrent UTIs, which carry a risk of systemic infections and kidney disease.  Women suffering from recurrent UTIs are currently treated with antibiotics, both to treat acute infections and for long-term prophylaxis to prevent the infections from recurring.  Nevertheless, because such a strategy can cause the development of drug allergies, an increased risk of fungal infections, and the development of strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, a protective vaccine that would increase a person’s resistance to infection would be much-desired.  Results from a study of the new vaccine, which were presented at the Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, indicate that such protection is a possibility.

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