Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Vaccine

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Vaccine

A Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is an infection anywhere along the urinary tract (kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra). Although fairly common, UTIs can lead to serious conditions when the infection spreads upwards into other parts of the urinary tract. In fact, 1 in every 3 women will experience UTIs at least once in their lifetime. 

Types of UTI include:  

  • Urethritis — infection in the urethra (painful urination)
  • Cystitis — infection in the bladder (lower abdominal pain, fever and blood in the urine)
  • Pyelonephritis — infection in the kidneys (fever, backaches, nausea and even pus-formation in the kidney)

Mild cases of UTI generally go away on their own, however, complicated UTIs may require antibiotics and can be recurring. Uromune is a vaccine designed to prevent urinary tract infections, and is especially useful for those who suffer from UTIs on a frequent basis.

How does the UTI vaccine work?

The UTI vaccine is an immunostimulant developed to prevent recurrent urinary tract infections.

If someone’s UTI symptoms are severe, worsening and do not improve after a few days, antibiotics are often the first line of treatment. However, recurring UTIs entail consistent low-dose antibiotic use, which can cause several problems in the long run — antibiotics destroy healthy bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. Additionally, prolonged antibiotic use will eventually lead to antibiotic resistance.

This vaccine is an oral vaccine that can prevent UTIs for up to a year after treatment, without relevant secondary effects. 

How do you take the Uromune?

Contrary to popular belief, not all vaccinations require injections. Uromune is administered via a pineapple-flavoured spray under the tongue everyday over a course of 3 months. 

Uromune would need to be brought in via a Special Access Route on a named-patient basis under the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) Singapore. 

What is the Uromune made of?

Uromune is a spray that consists of whole-cell, heat inactivated bacteria: 

  • Escherichia coli
  • Klebsiella pneumoniae
  • Proteus vulgaris
  • Enterococcus faecalis

These are 4 of the most common UTI-causing bugs found in women. 

Who should get Uromune?

Uromune is recommended for:

  • Women over 50 years old
  • People who get frequent and recurrent UTIs 

It is important that the patient is definitively diagnosed to have urinary tract infections by their urologist first. This is because UTI shows similar symptoms to other urinary conditions, such as painful bladder syndrome (interstitial cystitis). Patients should also be thoroughly examined to ensure that their UTIs are not caused by other underlying conditions, such as kidney stones. 

Can men use Uromune?

Yes. Studies have shown that the Uromune vaccine is effective and safe for both men and women. 

How effective is Uromune?

Uromune can substantially reduce UTIs and can be considered an alternative to antibiotics. Studies have shown that women on Uromune experienced UTI-free rates of up to 90%.

Summary

Frequent UTIs can often cause be debilitating and severely impair one’s quality of life. Although they can generally be treated with low-dose antibiotic use, it can cause an imbalance in your gut microbiome, as well as eventual antibiotic resistance. Thankfully, there are alternatives, such as Uromune, to help prevent UTIs from recurring and show promising results. If you experience UTI symptoms, please consult your Urologist for a detailed diagnosis and a personalised treatment plan. 

References

Foley, Steve. “Uromune UTI Vaccine | Alternative to Antibiotics.” The Urology Partnership, https://theurologypartnership.co.uk/treatments/uti-vaccine/#. Accessed 27 December 2022.

Jimenez, Darcy. “How vaccine science could help tackle antimicrobial resistance.” Pharmaceutical Technology, 17 February 2022, https://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/features/how-vaccine-science-help-tackle-antimicrobial-resistance/. Accessed 27 December 2022.

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Dr. Fiona Wu 2

Dr Fiona Wu
Consultant Urologist

MBBS (S'pore), MRCS (Edin), MMED (Surg),
MMED (Clinical Investigation),
FRCS (Urol) (RCPSG), FAMS (Urology)

Dr Fiona Wu is an experienced Consultant Urologist and is the Medical Director of Aare Urocare.

Prior to her private practice, Dr Fiona Wu spent 15 years in public service. She was a Consultant in the Department of Urology at National University Hospital (NUH), Alexandra Hospital and Ng Teng Fong General Hospital. She was also the Programme Director of Surgery-in-Training at NUH and a core faculty member of postgraduate junior doctors. 

Dr Wu’s clinical interests lie in Female Urology, Neuro-urology, Urinary Incontinence, Reconstructive Urology and Voiding Dysfunction. She believes in treating incontinence in a holistic way using minimally invasive methods. She worked closely with the gynaecology and colorectal departments to treat complex pelvic floor conditions and continues to do so in her own practice. 

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How can we help you?

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