An NHS trial will attempt to find the most effective treatment for debilitating, drug-resistant bladder infections.
The study, which will cost £2m, will involve more than 400 women who suffer from urinary tract infections (UTIs) that repeatedly recur.
Urinary tract infections are common and often cause pain or a burning sensation when urinating, as well as pain in the lower abdomen or back (almost half of all women in the UK will have one in their lifetime).
Most can be successfully treated with antibiotics, but some are more difficult to cure.
In the UK, around half a million women suffer from recurrent urinary tract infections, defined as at least three repeat infections per year or two in six months. These infections can affect daily life and may sometimes require a catheter to medicate the bladder.
An NHS trial will attempt to find the most effective treatment for debilitating, drug-resistant bladder infections (file image)
Most urinary tract infections can be successfully treated with antibiotics, but some are harder to cure (file image)
The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust trial will examine three treatment options.
Patients will be randomly assigned to different treatments for six months. Some will be given gentamicin (a powerful antibiotic that is injected directly into 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 prevent 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,” said Professor Chris Harding, consultant urological surgeon at the Freeman Hospital and leader of the study.
“We hope this trial will provide much-needed information on the best treatment for recurrent UTIs and help determine which is most cost-effective for the NHS.”